Türkiye defeats the USA in a dramatic ending to the 2026 World Cup match

In a close match at the 2026 World Cup, Türkiye defeated the USA 3-2 thanks to an overtime goal. The match was played in Los Angeles, where the Turks celebrated their first victory at the World Cup since 2002. Kaan Ayhan scored the decisive goal to end an exciting match. The USA, although leading from the third minute after Auston Trusty's goal, failed to maintain the advantage. The Turks responded quickly with goals from Arda Güler and Orkun Kökcü.  In the second half, Sebastian Berhalter equalized for the USA with a long-range shot, and Christian Pulisic was close to scoring the winning goal, but was unlucky. In turn, Türkiye, despite previous failures, took advantage of their chance at the end when Ayhan put the ball into the net. For the USA, which had earlier secured promotion to the knockout stage, this match was an opportunity to rest several key players. Coach Mauricio Pochettino believes that the clash with Turkey was a valuable experience that allowed his team to prepare for the next challenges. "We are ready and better than before this match because we have players with 90 minutes in their legs, ready to help," Pochettino said. The Americans will now face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 16. --- ## Related Articles 1. [Why Are World Cup Games Kicking Off at the Same Time?](https://pitchpulsemedia.com/en/news/why-are-world-cup-games-kicking-off-at-the-same-time) 2. [How to Watch South Korea vs. Mexico in 2026 World Cup: TV and Streaming Info](https://pitchpulsemedia.com/en/news/how-to-watch-south-korea-vs-mexico-in-2026-world-cup-tv-and-streaming-info)