Turkish Delight In LA: Guler's Crescent-Stars Refuse To Go Quietly, Edge USA In Five-Goal Thriller
Türkiye Vs USA Match Gallery, FIFA World Cup 2026: In an action-packed Group D finale at Los Angeles Stadium on Thursday, already-eliminated Türkiye played for pride and won 3-2. Having already clinched first place and a Round of 32 spot, Mauricio Pochettino's Stars and Stripes rested key starters but fought hard, getting goals from Auston Trusty and Sebastian Berhalter. However, Vincenzo Montella's Crescent-Stars refused to leave empty-handed. Real Madrid star Arda Güler sparked the Turkish offence with the first equaliser, before Barış Alper Yılmaz added a second. Even as "Captain America" Christian Pulisic injected late energy off the bench, Kaan Ayhan scored a dramatic 98th-minute winner to hand the co-hosts their first defeat. Meanwhile, in Santa Clara, a 0-0 draw between Australia and Paraguay saw the Socceroos finish second to advance, while La Albirroja kept their own knockout hopes alive as a top third-placed team. See the best photos from the TUR vs USA football match here:
United States players attend a training session ahead of a FIFA World Cup match against Turkey in Irvine, Calif., Wednesday, June 24, 2026 (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino, right, and Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick pose for pictures after exchanging jerseys ahead of a FIFA World Cup match against Turkey at Los Angeles stadium in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Wednesday, June 24, 2026 (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
A fan cheers prior to the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Fans of United States wait for the start of the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Turkey players arrive at the stadium ahead of the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
A fan displays a banner of United States' Christian Pulisic prior to a World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Fans gather at a watch party in Union Station ahead of kickoff for a World Cup Group D match between the United States and Turkey, Thursday, June 25, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands on the bench prior to the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
The United States and Turkey pause on the pitch during opening festivities prior to a World Cup Group D soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez)
Paris Hilton smiles on the pitch prior to the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
United States team pose for a group photo prior to the World Cup Group D soccer match against Turkey in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
United States' Auston Trusty (6) scores his team's first goal during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
United States' Auston Trusty scores his side's opening goal during a World Cup Group D soccer match against Turkey in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
United States' Auston Trusty (6) celebrates scoring his side's first goal against Turkey during the World Cup Group D soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Arda Guler (8) scores Turkey's against the United States during a World Cup Group D soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Turkey's Arda Guler, right, celebrates scoring their first goal against the United States during a World Cup Group D soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
United States' Mark McKenzie (22) and Turkey's Baris Alper Yilmaz (21) battle for the ball during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
United States' Giovanni Reyna falls as Turkey's Orkun Kokcu looks on during the World Cup Group D soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
United States' Mark McKenzie (22) and Turkey's Salih Ozcan stare at each other during the World Cup Group D soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Turkey's Orkun Kokcu (6) scores their second goal during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Turkey's Orkun Kokcu, center, celebrates scoring his side's second goal against the United States with teammates during the World Cup Group D soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
United States goalkeeper Matt Turner (1) takes the ball during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Fans react during a watch party of the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Turkey's Salih Ozcan (5) holds his left leg in front of referee Mustapha Ghorbal during the first half of a World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Marcio J. Sanchez)
United States' Joe Scally (23) reacts during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
United States' Giovanni Reyna (7) and Turkey's Orkun Kokcu vie for the ball during a World Cup Group D soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
United States' Sebastian Berhalter (14), top left, scores their second goal during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
United States' Sebastian Berhalter (14) celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Turkey during the World Cup Group D soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir makes a save during the World Cup Group D soccer match against the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
United States' Christian Pulisic (10) and Turkey's Oguz Aydin (24) compete for the ball during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir sits on the field during the World Cup Group D soccer match against the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Fans watch a World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Turkey on Thursday, June 25, 2026, on the beach in Santa Cruz, Calif. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
United States' Sebastian Berhalter (14) and Turkey's Arda Guler (8) react during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Turkey's Ozan Kabak (15) and United States' Ricardo Pepi battle for the ball during the World Cup Group D soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
United States' Ricardo Pepi falls as Turkey's Ozan Kabak dribbles during a World Cup Group D soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Turkey's Kenan Yildiz (11) watches his shot at goal as United States goalkeeper Matt Turner (1) takes the ball during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
United States goalkeeper Matt Turner (1) takes the ball as Turkey's Baris Alper Yilmaz (21) runs in during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
United States' Christian Pulisic, center, and Turkey's Ozan Kabak argue during the World Cup Group D soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino gestures during a World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Turkey's Kaan Ayhan (22) scores their third goal during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
A fan draped in an American flag watches the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)
Turkey's Kaan Ayhan celebrates scoring his side's third goal against the United States during a World Cup Group D soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Turkey's Kaan Ayhan, right, celebrates scoring his side's third goal against the United States during a World Cup Group D soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
United States goalkeeper Matt Turner (1) reacts following the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, California, near Los Angeles. | Photo: AP/Gregory Bull
Turkey head coach Vincenzo Montella congratulates Kaan Ayhan at the end of the World Cup Group D soccer match against the United States in Inglewood, California, near Los Angeles. | Photo: AP/Mark J. Terrill
United States' Christian Pulisic (10) and teammate Cristian Roldan, left, react following during the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, California, near Los Angeles. | Photo: AP/Gregory Bull
Turkey's Kaan Ayhan waves to the crowd after a World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles. | Photo: AP/Marcio J. Sanchez
United States' Sebastian Berhalter (14) assists teammate Auston Trusty (6) to his feet following the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles. | Photo: AP/Gregory Bull
Turkey react following the World Cup Group D soccer match between Turkey and the United States in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles. | Photo: AP/Gregory Bull
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