Turkey 3-2 USA Player Ratings: Sebastian Berhalter 9.2/10 Heroics Not Enough as Kaan Ayhan's Dramatic Winner Stuns USA in Last Group Game

Los Angeles Stadium delivered one of the 2026 World Cup's most dramatic and unexpected results as the Turkey national football team, eliminated before kick-off and without a single goal or point in two previous matches, produced a stunning first-half comeback before Kaan Ayhan's thunderous late header in the 90+8th minute completed a 3-2 victory that sent the Turkish camp into euphoric celebration and handed the USMNT their first group-stage defeat of the tournament.

For fans tracking the USMNT's preparedness ahead of the knockout rounds, this result raises important and timely questions about whether Pochettino's rotated side, nine changes from the XI that beat Australia, were caught between two tactical intentions, neither fully committed to winning nor adequately prepared to absorb Turkey's growing second-half threat as the match entered its most emotionally charged and physically intense final minutes.

Sebastian Berhalter was the standout individual performer throughout, his creative assist for Trusty's 3rd-minute opener and composed 49th-minute equaliser demonstrating exactly the kind of complete midfield quality that the USMNT's fringe players need to demonstrate to force genuine selection pressure. Yet his and his teammates' inability to defend the late set-piece that Ayhan converted with such devastating timing ultimately overshadowed what had been a genuinely impressive individual display from a player using this match to announce himself as a serious knockout-round contender for a starting role.

Turkey's extraordinary turnaround, Guler ending their 24-year FIFA World Cup goal drought in the 10th minute, Kokcu's clinical cutback finish briefly giving the eliminated side their first-ever lead in this tournament, Berhalter's equaliser seemingly salvaging the draw, then Ayhan's dramatic injury-time header completing one of the group stage's most stunning and emotionally resonant final-round results, confirmed that Montella's side leave this World Cup with their collective pride comprehensively restored. Check out the Turkey vs USA player ratings.

Turkey National Football Team Player Ratings vs USMNT

Here are the Turkey national football team player ratings from the Turkey vs USA Player Ratings.

USMNT Player Ratings vs Turkey

Have a look at the USMNT player ratings from the Turkey vs USA Player Ratings.

Man of the Match

Sebastian Berhalter was Sportsdunia's Man of the Match.