Turkey stuns USA with last-minute winner in World Cup Group D finale

In the final round of Group D at the 2026 World Cup, hosts USA fell 3-2 (1-2) to Turkey, despite having already secured first place in the group. The US had guaranteed their knockout stage spot by beating Paraguay and Australia, while Turkey had lost their first two matches and were already eliminated.

The match started well for the Americans, with Auston Trusty scoring in the third minute. However, Turkey responded through Arda Güler in the 10th minute, and Orkun Kökçü put them ahead in the 31st. At the start of the second half, Sebastian Berhalter leveled the score in the fourth minute with a shot from the edge of the box. But deep into stoppage time, Kaan Ayhan scored to make it 3-2, giving Turkey their first win of the tournament.

In the other Group D match, Australia and Paraguay played out a 0-0 draw, which gave Australia second place with four points, and Paraguay also four points in third place, with a good chance of advancing as one of the best third-placed teams. The group standings: USA 6 points, Australia 4, Paraguay 4, Turkey 3.

In Group F, Japan and Sweden drew 1-1, both advancing to the knockout stage. Daizen Maeda put Japan ahead in the 56th minute, but Anthony Elanga equalized six minutes later. The Netherlands beat Tunisia 3-1 in Kansas City, with an own goal by Tunisian captain Eljes Shiri in the third minute, followed by a strike from Brian Brobbey in the seventh. Hazem Masturi pulled one back early in the second half, but Jan Paul van Hecke restored the two-goal lead in the 62nd minute.

Group F standings: Netherlands 7 points, Japan 5, Sweden 4, Tunisia 0 – all three top teams advancing.

This is the first World Cup with 48 teams, hosted jointly by Mexico, the USA, and Canada. The teams are split into 12 groups of four; the top two from each group and the eight best third-placed teams qualify for the knockout stage. The group stage ends on June 27, with the round of 32 starting June 28. Semifinals are on July 14 and 15, the third-place match on July 18, and the final on July 19.