Arda Güler Ends Türkiye's 64-Shot Drought to Deliver World Cup Moment in Stunning 3–2 Win Over USA
After Türkiye fired 64 shots across their first two group matches without scoring a single goal — a record in World Cup history since 1966 — Real Madrid star Arda Güler stepped forward in the 10th minute at SoFi Stadium and changed everything. The subsequent 3–2 win over the United States was one of Day 15's most dramatic matches, and a defining statement for Güler on the world's biggest stage.
Sixty-Four Shots. Zero Goals. Then: Arda Güler.
There are moments in football where the numbers tell a story no commentary can improve upon. Türkiye entered their final Group D match against the United States having fired 64 shots across their previous two fixtures — the most attempts without scoring at any two-game stretch in World Cup history since records began in 1966. They had hit the woodwork. They had had shots saved. They had missed. And missed again. Turkey were goalless. The pressure was immense.
Then came the 10th minute on June 25. Auston Trusty had given the host nation an early lead in the 3rd minute, and Türkiye needed a response. Barış Alper Yılmaz broke down the left, United States centre-back Miles Robinson couldn't hold him, and the ball broke to Arda Güler in the central position. With the composure of a player who has spent his entire career preparing for exactly this moment, the 20-year-old Real Madrid midfielder stroked the ball into the bottom corner. Turkey had their first goal of the tournament. Güler had written himself into history.
Man of the Match: A Performance That Transcended the Result
Güler didn't just score. He dominated. Named Man of the Match by FIFA, the Turkish prodigy was the game's standout performer over 90 minutes — even as the United States pushed back with tremendous energy, Sebastian Berhalter's 49th-minute equaliser threatening to spoil the narrative. Güler's second major contribution came in the buildup to Orkun Kökçü's 31st-minute goal, where his vision, positioning, and precise passing carved open a well-organised American back line.
At just 20 years old, playing in only his second World Cup (he was part of the 2024 Euros squad where he scored a stunning opener against Georgia), Güler is establishing himself as one of the tournament's genuine breakout stars. The comparisons with young Messi or young Ronaldo have circulated in Turkish media for years. At SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, the rest of the world got a taste of why those comparisons exist.
What makes Güler's performance all the more remarkable is the context. Türkiye's campaign had been frustrating — spectacular play, shots from everywhere, but zero goals until this match. The weight of expectation on Güler, as the team's most creative player and its connection to Real Madrid's global platform, was extraordinary. He handled it with the calmness of a veteran.
Kaan Ayhan's Last-Kick Winner — and Trusty's Injury
The match's defining moment came deep in stoppage time — the 90+8th minute to be precise. The USA had levelled at 2–2 through Berhalter's thunderbolt, and the match seemed to be heading for a draw that would have left Turkish fans hollow after such a promising performance. Then Auston Trusty, who had scored the opening goal and had been a rock at the back for the Americans, went down injured. The USA had already used all their substitutions.
With one fewer body on the pitch, Kaan Ayhan capitalised on the resulting disorganisation to poke home what proved to be the final kick of the game. It was the perfect ending to a chaotic, high-intensity match — and it confirmed Türkiye as Group D runners-up, heading to the Round of 32 despite the drama of a tournament that almost never got started.
USA Still Tops Group D Despite the Defeat
The result was a defeat for the host nation, but the United States had already secured their position as Group D winners coming into the game — with enough points banked from their earlier matches to withstand a Matchday 3 loss. Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, and the rest of the USMNT squad advance to the knockout stage having given their home crowd several memorable moments across the group stage. There will be learning from this defeat — Trusty's injury, the tactical vulnerability once subs were exhausted — but the Round of 32 is where the real test begins.
What Güler's Performance Means for Real Madrid
From Real Madrid's perspective, Güler's emergence as a tournament-level performer is significant. Signed from Fenerbahçe as a teenager and given measured minutes in his debut season at the Bernabéu, the young Turk has steadily built his case for increased playing time. A Man of the Match performance at a World Cup, broadcasting to hundreds of millions of viewers globally, strengthens that case enormously. The debate about Güler's role in Carlo Ancelotti's (or his successor's) plans next season just got considerably more interesting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Türkiye had taken 64 shots across their first two World Cup 2026 group matches without scoring a single goal — the most attempts without scoring in any two-game span at a FIFA World Cup since 1966, when records began to be tracked comprehensively.
In the 10th minute, Barış Alper Yılmaz broke forward on the left and was held but the ball broke to Güler in a central position. He composed himself and finished into the bottom corner past goalkeeper Matt Turner, scoring his first FIFA World Cup goal.
Yes. Türkiye advanced to the Round of 32 as Group D runners-up. The USA topped the group despite losing this match.