Auston Trusty headed the US in front inside the opening minutes from a corner, but Arda Guler equalized and Orkun Kokcu put Turkiye ahead before halftime. Sebastian Berhalter smashed in a 20-yard equalizer in the 49th to make it 2-2, before Kaan Ayhan won it for Turkiye on the final kick of the match. It is the United States' first defeat of the tournament, and it does not change the big picture: the US had already clinched the Round of 32 with its win over Australia and advances anyway, with a knockout meeting against Bosnia and Herzegovina next. We did not run a pre-match card on this dead rubber; the read below is retrospective.
What happened
This was the textbook dead rubber. The United States arrived at SoFi having already won its first two games and locked up a knockout spot, so Mauricio Pochettino rotated heavily and protected key starters with the Round of 32 in mind. Turkiye, eliminated after losing to Australia and Paraguay, had nothing to lose and named its strongest available side. That gap in motivation and continuity showed: the US led twice but could not see the game out against a sharper, more settled opponent, and conceded on the final kick.
For the bigger picture, the loss barely registers. The USMNT finished group play with a 4-1 win over Paraguay, a 2-0 win over Australia, and this 3-2 defeat, and moves into the knockout round in good health. The full group picture is in our Group D guide, and the team outlook in our USMNT betting guide.
The betting angle
The market had the US a modest -125 favorite even in rotation, with Turkiye +290 and the draw +320. The lesson here is the one bettors relearn every tournament: fade or at least respect the side that has clinched and is resting starters, especially against an opponent still playing for something, even if that something is only pride. A rested favorite in a dead rubber is one of the softest minus-money prices on the board, and Turkiye at +290 (or the draw) was the value, not the chalk.
On the total, this one sailed over. Five goals went in, so the over 2.5 cashed comfortably, which also fits the dead-rubber pattern: looser defending, rotated back lines, and an end-to-end second half. When you spot a clinched team resting players, the over and the live underdog are usually the cleaner positions than laying the favorite.
Frequently asked questions
- What was the final score of USA vs Turkiye?
- Turkiye beat the United States 3-2 on June 25, 2026 at SoFi Stadium, with Kaan Ayhan scoring on the final kick of the match. It was the USMNT’s first defeat of the tournament.
- Did the USA still advance after losing to Turkiye?
- Yes. The United States had already clinched its place in the Round of 32 with the 2-0 win over Australia, so the result did not change its advancement. The US finished group play and moves on to the knockout round, where it is set to meet Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Why did the USA lose to a winless Turkiye side?
- It was a dead rubber for the US. With the group already wrapped up, Mauricio Pochettino rotated heavily and rested key starters, while an eliminated Turkiye played its strongest available XI for pride. That is the classic dead-rubber dynamic: the team with something left to play for often outruns the rested favorite.
- Who scored in USA vs Turkiye?
- For the US, Auston Trusty headed in from a corner inside the opening minutes and Sebastian Berhalter equalized from 20 yards in the 49th. For Turkiye, Arda Guler and Orkun Kokcu scored in the first half and Kaan Ayhan won it on the final kick.
Odds are the FanDuel prices the match closed at; the three-way moneyline is for 90 minutes (regulation). This is editorial analysis, not betting advice. 21+. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.