Turkey defeated the U.S. men's national soccer team 3-2 on Thursday, June 25, 2026 [4], with a stoppage-time goal.
The result determines the final standings of Group D, as Turkey needed the victory to finish at the top of the group [11]. While the U.S. had already secured advancement to the next round, the loss marks an end to their group stage campaign.
The match took place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California [6]. The contest remained tense until the final moments when defender Kaan Ayhan scored the winning goal. Reports on the exact timing of the goal vary, with one source placing it in the 98th minute [2] and another citing the 90+9th minute [3].
U.S. officials opted for a rotated lineup for the match because the team had already guaranteed a spot in the knockout stage [11]. This tactical decision may have contributed to the defensive lapse that allowed Turkey to clinch the 3-2 victory [1].
Turkey's win ensures they enter the next phase of the tournament with momentum. The victory was secured in the closing seconds of the game, a result that shifts the group's power dynamic just before the tournament moves into the elimination rounds.
For the U.S. team, the focus now shifts to recovery and preparation for their upcoming opponent. Despite the loss, the team remains in the competition, though the late collapse at home will likely be a point of internal review for the coaching staff.
“Turkey defeated the U.S. men's national soccer team 3-2”
Turkey's victory grants them the top seed in Group D, which typically provides a more favorable draw in the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup. For the U.S., the decision to rotate the squad highlights a calculated risk to preserve player health, but the stoppage-time defeat exposes a vulnerability in late-game defensive organization that opponents may exploit in the next round.
