Türkiye 3-2 USA: Kaan Ayhan’s Stoppage-Time Header Caps a Wild World Cup Farewell
Some matches are branded “dead rubbers” before kick-off. Football rarely respects the label. At SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on 25 June 2026, the final Group D fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup exploded into chaos as Türkiye beat USA 3-2, Kaan Ayhan heading home in the 98th minute (90+8) to gift an already-eliminated side the sweetest of goodbyes.
First half: lightning trade of blows
The hosts struck inside three minutes. Sebastian Berhalter whipped in a corner and Auston Trusty rose to head USA in front, 1-0. It was the ideal start for a heavily rotated American line-up.
Türkiye needed only seven minutes to reply. In the 10th, teenage talisman Arda Güler finished coolly from the edge of the box to level. By the 31st, Barış Yılmaz had turned the game on its head, finishing to make it 2-1 to Türkiye at the interval. Three goals in half an hour had transformed a supposed formality into a genuine contest.
Second half: USA level, Türkiye pounce late
USA regained control after the break. In the 49th minute Berhalter switched from provider to scorer, lashing a powerful effort from outside the area beyond the Turkish keeper to make it 2-2. For a side that had already qualified and rested key men, the fight was admirable.
The game looked set to finish all square. Then, with the clock deep into added time, Can Uzun delivered to the back post and Kaan Ayhan got there first, knocking the ball into the net in the 98th minute. Türkiye 3-2. Güler, named Player of the Match, supplied the artistry; Ayhan supplied the unforgettable ending.
What it means: USA still top Group D
The defeat changed nothing for the United States. Having already beaten Paraguay and Australia, the hosts had wrapped up top spot in Group D and advance to the Round of 32, where they will meet Bosnia and Herzegovina. Coach Mauricio Pochettino made roughly nine changes, treating the night as a chance to rotate and rest. Türkiye, eliminated before kick-off, leave with pride if not progression. For Güler and this young core, the winner may prove a launchpad for the next cycle.
Read more in our match reports, follow the action on live scores, and check the schedule on our fixtures page.
Disclaimer: Scores, scorers and timings are compiled from multiple public media reports; FIFA official data prevails in case of any discrepancy.
