Türkiye, in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D, defeated the USA 3‑2 in their final match but failed to progress beyond the group stage. Kaan Ayhan's goal in the 90+8 minute secured the win at Los Angeles Stadium, yet earlier defeats kept them out of the knockout round.

How did Türkiye's group performance unfold?

Türkiye opened the group with losses to Australia (0‑2) and Paraguay (0‑1), leaving them with a severe points deficit. The 3‑2 victory over the USA added only one point, leaving them with a total of three points and an early exit. In case of a tie, Türkiye fell behind on head‑to‑head results, while the USA topped the group with six points.

What were the match's decisive moments?

The USA took the lead early, with Trusty scoring from a Benhalter corner in the third minute. Türkiye responded in the 10th minute when Barış Alper Yılmaz set up Arda Güler, whose goal equalised the score. Orkun Kökçü then struck from close range to put Türkiye ahead 2‑1. The USA equalised at 49 minutes through a Berhalter strike from outside the box. In stoppage time, Kaan Ayhan's header made it 3‑2, but the points were insufficient for advancement.

Why wasn't the win enough?

When teams finish level on points, the first tiebreaker is the head‑to‑head results. Türkiye had lost to both Australia and Paraguay, leaving them behind on the mini‑league. Consequently, the USA win only added three points, far short of the six needed to qualify.

What lies ahead?

The Ay‑yıldızlılar will look to rebuild after the tournament. Their recent form stands at 1W‑0D‑1L, with the most recent match a win, and they face France at home on 2026‑09‑25. The last recorded result, Mexico 1‑0 Türkiye on 2025‑06‑11, highlights defensive issues that must be addressed.