U.S. Loses World Cup Game Against Turkey, Moves on to Knockout Round
U.S. Loses World Cup Game Against Turkey, Moves on to Knockout Round
Natasha Dye, Daniel S. LevineFri, June 26, 2026 at 4:56 AM UTC
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Turkey's Oguz Aydin (center)Credit: Robin Alam/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty -
The U.S. Men's National Team lost their match to Turkey in the World Cup on Thursday, June 25
The final score was 3-2, with Turkey's Kaan Ayhan scoring in the final moments
Despite the loss, USMNT is moving on to play Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 on July 1
The United States Men's National Team lost its match to Turkey on Thursday, June 25, but will still advance to the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout round.
The American men fell to the Turkish team 3-2 in their match at Los Angeles Stadium (also known as SoFi Stadium) on Thursday, June 25.
It was a tight match, and Auston Trusty and Sebastian Berhalter scored two goals for the U.S., while Arda Güler and Baris Alper Yilmaz scored a pair for Turkey.
The game remained tied after 90 minutes. Turkey won thanks to Kaan Ayhan, who scored a tie-breaking goal in the eighth minute of stoppage time.
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The U.S. won its first two World Cup matches before Thursday's game against Turkey. On June 12, they defeated Paraguay 4-1 and came out victorious again the following week with a 2-0 win over Australia on June 19, which claimed them the first-place spot for Group D. The team's first match in the Round of 32 is set for Wednesday, July 1, against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The team was rejoined by Christian Pulisic, who was out in their win over Australia after exiting their opening match against Paraguay with an injury. At the time, Pulisic told reporters he didn't think the injury would persist, but he was unable to compete on June 19.
Christian Pulisic (center)Credit: Patrick T. FALLON / AFP via Getty
On Wednesday, June 24, Pulisic told reporters, “When you win your last game, you go into the next one with that little bit of extra,” according to CNN. “That winning mentality feeling is just — it sticks with you. So you want it, you want it for sure. Going into the knockout rounds will definitely feel better with a win. So, that’s why we’re going to push for it, and it’s an opportunity, an amazing opportunity."
USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino also spoke to reporters ahead of Thursday's match. “It’s a World Cup match where when you defend your jersey, your flag, your future – always is about pride,” Pochettino said, per CNN. “I have no doubt that the Turkish team is going to be competitive tomorrow. They have good players, of course, they are eliminated, but… we are not thinking that it’s going to be a game that it’s going to be easy, we know the quality."
Pochettino added, "I think it’s not my choice to analyze why they were eliminated, but … in the way that they played the two games, even if they didn’t win, I think they deserve more, in my opinion.”
on People
Source: “AOL Sports”
