Turkey defeated the United States 3-2 on June 26, 2026, following a last-gasp goal to secure a victory in Group D [1], [3].
The result ends the unbeaten group-stage run of the U.S. men's national team. While the loss is a significant upset, it does not impact the team's advancement as the U.S. had already secured the top spot in the group [1], [2].
The match remained tense until the final moments of stoppage time. Kaan Ayhan scored the winning goal in the 98th minute [2], clinching the 3-2 victory for Turkey [1].
Turkey's comeback victory marks a dramatic shift in momentum for the Group D clash. The U.S. team struggled to hold their lead in the closing stages of the game, a lapse that allowed Turkey to capitalize and steal the win.
Despite the late heartbreak, the U.S. enters the knockout stage as the group leader. Turkey's performance demonstrates their ability to compete with top-seeded teams under pressure.
“Turkey defeated the United States 3-2”
This result serves as a cautionary tale for the U.S. men's national team regarding defensive discipline in the final minutes of a match. Although the loss does not jeopardize their tournament standing, conceding a 98th-minute goal to a lower-seeded opponent suggests a vulnerability that opponents in the knockout rounds may attempt to exploit.
