WORLD CUP PROGNOSTICATION? Will the US go undefeated in Group play with a win on 6/26 vs Turkey?
68% of users predicted YES — the community missed this one. 57 predictions cast.
Turkey (Türkiye) defeated the United States 3-2 in stoppage time on June 26, 2026, handing the USMNT its first loss of the group stage and ending any possibility of going undefeated in Group D play. Auston Trusty put the U.S. ahead within three minutes off a corner kick, but Arda Güler equalized shortly after and scored again before the half-hour mark to give Turkey a 2-1 lead. The U.S. pulled level early in the second half before Kaan Ayhan scored the winning goal on the final kick of the match.
The loss carried no elimination consequence: the U.S. had already clinched first place in Group D before kickoff, meaning the team advances to the knockout round to face Bosnia and Herzegovina regardless of the result. Turkey also advances. The result does, however, affect seeding and bracket positioning heading into the knockout phase. Community members had been strongly bullish on the U.S. entering the match (68% expecting a win), reflecting confidence in the USMNT's strong group stage form. Türkiye's stoppage-time winner illustrated the competitive depth of the 2026 field and served as a warning for the U.S. heading into knockout play on home soil.