The United States men's national soccer team concluded its Group D play in the FIFA World Cup with a 3-2 loss to Türkiye, decided by a last-second goal from Kaan Ayhan. The defeat, however, does not affect the U.S. team's advancement to the round of 32 in the tournament.
Despite the late heartbreak, the match's outcome had no bearing on the U.S. team's chances of progressing. The focus for the team now shifts to their upcoming round of 32 match.
Türkiye, who had a less successful tournament run, secured a victory in their final match. The U.S. squad featured nine changes to its starting lineup, as selected by head coach Mauricio Pochettino, to keep players rested for the knockout stage.
Auston Trusty opened the scoring for the United States just three minutes into the match, assisted by Sebastian Berhalter. The crowd reacted enthusiastically to the early goal at the Los Angeles Stadium. However, Türkiye quickly responded seven minutes later with a goal from Arda Güler, who found the back of the net past U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner.
The match remained physical, with both teams vying for an advantage. Orkun Kökçü put Türkiye ahead again with a goal from close range. The first half concluded with Türkiye leading.
Christian Pulisic, who had been sidelined with a calf injury, returned to the field in the second half. He played 45 minutes, making an immediate impact by pressuring Türkiye's defense. This pressure led to an equalizer for the U.S., with Sebastian Berhalter scoring after a scramble that resulted from a throw-in. The goal tied the game at two apiece just three minutes into the second half.
Both teams had opportunities to take the lead. Pulisic had a chance with a shot that went wide. Ultimately, Kaan Ayhan scored the decisive goal for Türkiye in the closing moments of the game.
The U.S. men's national team is scheduled to play its round of 32 match on July 1 at 8 p.m. in the San Francisco Bay Area.