2026 FIFA blog
Türkiye defeated the United States 3-2 in the final Group D fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Auston Trusty netting the tournament’s record-breaking 173rd goal before Vincenzo Montella’s side rallied with three unanswered goals. Mauricio Pochettino’s heavily rotated lineup, which benched Christian Pulisic and protected several regular starters due to yellow-card and fitness concerns, lost the defensive control and pressing structure that defined earlier victories. Despite the defeat, the United States secured first place in the group with 6 points and a +4 goal difference, while Turkey’s 3 points and -2 goal difference proved insufficient for progression in the 48-team format. The result exposes questions about US squad depth and concentration levels ahead of the Round of 32, where single errors carry elimination consequences.
