The United States ended the group stage of the World Cup in dramatic fashion thanks to a 3-2 defeat to Turkey in the final group match.
The tournament co-hosts began the game strongly and shot into the lead in just the third minute thanks to Auston Trusty’s sharp effort but that lead only last a few minutes as a slick move from Turkey saw Arda Guler score their first goal of the tournament.
The European side then went ahead through Burak Yilmaz and took that lead into the break whilst silencing a previously buoyant American crowd in Los Angeles. Not to be outdone, the US got themselves back on level terms through Sebastian Berhalter – scoring his first international goal – and they looked to push for a winner.
However, the drama concluded with the very last kick of the game as substitute Kaan Ayhan popped up at the back post to touch Turkey back in front and earn them three points. The US had already qualified before this game and will face Bosnia-Herzegovina in the last-32 while Turkey sign off from a poor campaign with some hope for their future rekindled.
Follow all the reaction from USA v Turkey, below:
The politicisation of World Cup’s first pride match
A match celebrating the LGBTQ+ community in conjunction with Seattle’s Pride Weekend celebrations was a perfect moment for inclusivity and football to align. Then, Iran were drawn to face Egypt. Kieran Jackson takes a look at the rainbow game – an event which turned into (another) political storm at the 2026 World Cup.
The bracket takes shape
We now know four of the 16 ties in the next stage
South Africa v Canada (Sunday, 8pm BST)
Brazil v Japan (Monday, 6pm BST)
Netherlands v Morocco (Tuesday, 2am BST)
USA v Bosnia & Herzegovina (Thursday, 2am BST)
Up next
After a hectic Thursday night and Friday morning, the action resumes at 8pm BST three more groups reaching their conclusions.
Group I (8pm)
Norway v France, Senegal v Iraq
Group H (1am Saturday)
Cape Verde v Saudi Arabia
Uruguay v Spain
Group G (4am)
Egypt v Iran
New Zealand v Belgium
Postecoglou hails Socceroos
Ange Postecoglou, speaking in the ITV studio, has plenty of praise for Australia reaching the knockouts – but now he wants them to build on it.
“It’s a great achievement for Australia. It was a tough group and to come second is fantastic for them. It sets them up nicely now. It’s another World Cup that they’ve got out of the group stage,” the former Socceroos coach said.
“It’s massive for a country like Australia. We’re at that stage where we’re qualifying for World Cups regularly and now it’s about getting to that next level.
“For a lot of countries like Australia and others at that level, for us to break through we’ve got to get to the knockout stages consistently and win knockout games – that’s the next phase.”
Breathtaking Ecuador become World Cup dark horses again and expose Germany’s biggest problem
Ecuador battled, scrapped and clawed their way to this famous World Cup 2026 comeback victory over Germany.
A deserved 2-1 win to advance to the knockout stage for the second-ever time and ensure redemption for the maligned coach Sebastian Beccacece.
They finish third in Group E, in another blow to Scotland’s hopes of becoming one of the eight third-place teams to advance, with their manager clambering into the stands like he had won Wimbledon in what promises to be a wild New York party.
How last-32 ties are shaping up
The time for win-or-go-home football is almost here and this is how the bracket is shaping up.
