The night of 25–26 June at WC-2026 was action-packed: six matches put the final stamp on Groups D, E and F. The biggest sensation — Turkey snatched a victory over tournament hosts the USA in the dying seconds, while Ecuador overturned a 0:1 deficit to beat Germany and advance to the knockout stage. If you need the WC-2026 match schedule in Kyiv time for today — it is already available on the site.
Night results
Turkey vs USA 3:2 (Group D)
Kick-off at 05:00 Kyiv time, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles. The USA took to the pitch with nine changes to the starting line-up — first place in the group was already secured. Auston Trusty opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, but Arda Güler (10') and Barış Alper Yılmaz (31') turned the game around before half-time. Sebastian Berhalter restored parity in the 49th minute with a powerful strike from outside the box. The climax came in the 90+8: Kaan Aydın headed home a cross from Can Uzun to hand Turkey their only win of the tournament. Christian Pulisic, returning from a calf injury, came on in the 58th minute — his participation in the knockout stage is not in doubt. The USA finished first in Group D and will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32.
Ecuador vs Germany 2:1 (Group E)
Kick-off at 23:00 Kyiv time, stadium in New Jersey. Leroy Sané struck as early as the 2nd minute — Germany's fastest World Cup goal since 1934. But Nilson Angulo levelled in the 9th minute with a precise shot through Pavlović's legs. The decisive goal came in the 77th minute: Gonzalo Plata turned home a low cross after a rebound off Rodríguez and sent Ecuador into the knockout stage. For Ecuador, this is only their second ever round-of-32 appearance — the first since 2006. For Germany, it is their first group-stage defeat to a South American opponent in history.
Ivory Coast vs Curaçao 2:0 (Group E)
Kick-off at 23:00 Kyiv time, Philadelphia. Nicolas Pépé scored a brace and sent the Elephants through to the knockout stage. Curaçao leave the tournament without a single point.
Netherlands vs Tunisia 3:1 (Group F)
Kick-off at 02:00 Kyiv time, Kansas City. The Netherlands comfortably beat an already-eliminated Tunisia and finished top of Group F. Brian Brobbey got on the scoresheet — his third shot on target of the tournament.
Japan vs Sweden 1:1 (Group F)
Kick-off at 02:00 Kyiv time, Dallas. The draw suited both sides: both Japan and Sweden advanced from the group. Daizen Maeda scored for Japan — he became the third Japanese player to score at two different World Cups. Sweden set a tournament record: four goals from outside the box in the group stage.
Paraguay vs Australia 0:0 (Group D)
Kick-off at 05:00 Kyiv time, San Francisco. The draw helped neither side — both are eliminated. Australia finished second in Group D, but it was not enough to advance.
Group standings
Group D — final
- USA — 1st place (6 points, through to round of 32)
- Australia — 2nd place (4 points, through to round of 32)
- Paraguay — 3rd place (1 point, eliminated)
- Turkey — 4th place (3 points, eliminated despite winning their final match)
Group E — final
- Germany — 1st place (6 points, through)
- Ivory Coast — 2nd place (6 points, through)
- Ecuador — 3rd place (3 points, through as one of the best third-placed teams)
- Curaçao — 4th place (0 points, eliminated)
Group F — final
- Netherlands — 1st place (7 points, through)
- Japan — 2nd place (5 points, through)
- Sweden — 3rd place (4 points, through)
- Tunisia — 4th place (0 points, eliminated)
Off the pitch
Pulisic's return. Christian Pulisic came on as a substitute in the 58th minute against Turkey — his first minutes on the pitch since suffering a calf injury in the first half of the opening match against Paraguay. Coach Mauricio Pochettino made nine changes to the starting line-up, keeping his key players fresh for the knockout stage.
Tournament goals record. Auston Trusty's goal in the 3rd minute of Turkey vs USA was the 173rd of this World Cup, surpassing the scoring record set at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar — and with four matches still to spare.
Ecuador — history. Ecuador's progression to the round of 32 is only the second time in their history. The first was in 2006, when they were knocked out in the round of 16 by England after a David Beckham goal.
Arda Güler — Turkey's youngest scorer. At 21 years and 120 days, Arda Güler became the youngest player ever to score for Turkey at a World Cup.
Today, 26 June, the World Cup features eight matches in Groups G, H and I — including Norway vs France (at 22:00 Kyiv time) and Uruguay vs Spain (at 03:00 Kyiv time). The full WC-2026 match schedule in Kyiv time for 26 June is on a separate page. Results from the previous morning's matches are in the 25 June morning matches recap.
Photo: via nbcsports.com · Editorial (source)
