Kaan Ayhan’s close-range finish deep into stoppage time delivered a 3-2 victory for Turkey over a much-rotated United States in Los Angeles, a result that did nothing to alter the Group D standings but punctured the co-hosts’ perfect start. The US, already assured of top spot, made nine changes and led inside three minutes through Auston Trusty’s first international goal from a corner. Turkey, eliminated before kick-off and goalless in their opening two matches, responded with a swift equaliser from Arda Güler and a second from Barış Alper Yılmaz after a sweeping move down the left. Sebastian Berhalter levelled early in the second half with a low drive from distance, and the return of Christian Pulisic from a calf injury for the final half-hour injected urgency, but Ayhan poked home the winner in the eighth minute of added time to give Vincenzo Montella’s side a first victory of the tournament.

Across the Bay Area in Santa Clara, Australia and Paraguay played out a cautious 0-0 draw that suited both camps. The Socceroos, needing only a point to secure second place, created the better openings in a first half dominated by the right-sided combination of Jordan Bos and Cristian Volpato, but Orlando Gill saved from Jackson Irvine and Volpato. Paraguay, deploying a back five in the absence of the suspended Miguel Almirón, offered little threat until a livelier second half in which substitute Maurício forced a routine stop from Patrick Beach and Julio Enciso dragged a late effort wide. The stalemate ensured Australia progressed as runners-up with four points, while Paraguay finished third, also on four points but with an inferior goal difference of minus two.

The final table confirmed the United States as group winners on six points, with Australia second on four, Paraguay third on four, and Turkey bottom on three. The Americans will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 in Santa Clara on 1 July. Australia advance to a meeting with the Group G runner-up in Dallas on 3 July. Paraguay must wait for the conclusion of the remaining groups to learn whether their tally is sufficient to claim one of the eight berths reserved for the best third-placed finishers; projections give them a high probability of progressing, though a specific combination of results across Groups G, H, J, K, and L could still eliminate them.

Mauricio Pochettino, the US head coach, used his post-match press conference to push back against any narrative of setback, pointedly noting that no journalist had congratulated his team for winning the group. “It’s a bit sad,” he said. “We finished first. We managed the pressure and the expectations quite well. We had other priorities.” He confirmed Pulisic was fit and ready for the knockout phase, and stressed that the rotation was designed to protect players on yellow cards and to test squad depth ahead of the Bosnia match. Viewed from Washington, the defeat was treated as an inconsequential blip; the focus has already shifted to the knockout rounds, where the co-hosts’ campaign will be judged.