NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
The US men’s national soccer team lost their final Group D match against Türkiye, 3-2, as Kaan Ayhan scored the last shot of the game against the home country.
The only, and most important, caveat: this game did not affect the United States’ chances of winning the FIFA World Cup in the first place.
Yes, Team USA was trying to enter the round of 32 next week, until they made history in this country as the first team to win three World Cup games. Instead, it’s some heartbreak in Los Angeles.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH ONE OF THE GAMES ON FOXNEWS.COM
Sebastian Berhalter of the United States celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Türkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Türkiye, who had a poor tournament, will go home on a high note as they celebrate their hard-fought victory against a USMNT side that saw nine changes to the starting XI from head coach Mauricio Pochettino to keep players fresh next week.
The crowd was shaking during the national anthem, but everyone in Inglewood, Calif. they may have felt it when Auston Trusty headed home Sebastian Berhalter’s corner just three minutes into the match against Türkiye.
Trusty crashed to death on the US bench, while the sold-out crowd at Los Angeles Stadium cheered.
But Türkiye, despite not having a chance to advance in this competition, was not out of the game. After only seven minutes, Arda Güler, the 21-year-old who plays for Real Madrid, took advantage of some soft US opportunities and buried the ball past Matt Turner, replacing Matt Freese in the net, to tie the game.
FIFA FACES DISCIPLINARY PRESSURE FOR 2026 WORLD CUP IN MEXICO AFTER RETURN OF ANTI-GAY CHANT VS CZECH REPUBLIC
It was a physical game going forward, the US showing that this game still means something, as they wanted history as the only team to ever win three World Cup games. At that time, Türkiye was playing for pride, and it was written on their faces.
It was Türkiye who broke the tie first, however, as Orkun Kökçü looked clean in front of goal thanks to a strong pass into the US box. He clicked it in and the crowd fell silent.
Auston Trusty of the United States celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between Türkiye and USA at Los Angeles Stadium on June 25, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Jared C. Tilton/FIFA)
The first half ended with Türkiye coming out on top, but if there’s one way to get the crowd going in the second half, it’s to see “Captain America” finally back on the field. Christian Pulisic played only 45 minutes in this World Cup due to an injury to his left calf, missing the entire game against Australia.
But Pulisic said he felt 100% before the game, and instead of letting him sit out until the round of 32, Pochettino thought it wise to give him time. He quickly made an impact, forcing Türkiye back into their defensive zone, and that led to a moment when a throw resulted in a pinball that landed at Berhalter’s foot.
Berhalter scored a low goal, and due to traffic, the ball went past the Türkiye goalkeeper to equalize at two. Once again, there were only three minutes left in the half, and all the momentum went back to the home country.
Both teams tried their best to break back, with Pulisic having the best chance with a left-footed shot that went wide of the left post. However, Ayhan’s heroics kicking the ball into the back of the US net is how this ended before the final whistle.
Gio Reyna of the United States and Orkun Kokcu of Turkey fight 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)
CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
The USMNT will play their round of 32 game on July 1 at 8pm in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle.
