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# World Cup 2026 Roundup: Turkey Stun USA, Mbappe vs Haaland Headlines Friday’s Action
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is delivering drama on every front. From an already-eliminated Turkey stunning the co-host United States with the last kick of the game, to the tantalizing Friday showdown between Kylian Mbappe’s France and Erling Haaland’s Norway — here’s everything you need to know from the past 24 hours.
## 🚨 Match Results Summary
| Match | Score | Key Story |
|——-|——-|———–|
| **Turkey vs USA** | 3-2 | Turkey win with last-kick stoppage-time goal in LA |
| **Australia vs Paraguay** | 0-0 | Drab draw sends both teams through to last 32 |
| **Netherlands vs Tunisia** | 3-1 | Dutch finish top of Group F, set up Morocco clash |
| **Japan vs Sweden** | 1-1 | Both teams advance to knockout stage |
| **Ivory Coast vs Curacao** | — | Curacao eliminated, debut over |
## ⚡ Turkey 3-2 USA: Hollywood Drama in Los Angeles
The biggest story of Thursday came from the LA Stadium, where an already-eliminated Turkey side produced a stunning upset against the co-hosts.
The USA made a dream start — Celtic defender **Auston Trusty** scored after just **2 minutes and 13 seconds**, the second-fastest goal in US World Cup history. But Turkey regrouped quickly. Real Madrid’s teenage sensation **Arda Guler** equalized, and **Orkun Kokcu** put Turkey ahead before halftime.
The US fought back in the second half through **Sebastian Berhalter’s** 20-yard strike, and substitute **Christian Pulisic** went close three times searching for a winner. But with the last kick of the game, **Kaan Ayhan** turned home a cross to give Turkey their first World Cup win since 2002.
Despite the loss, the USA still finished top of Group D and will face **Bosnia-Herzegovina** in the last 32 on July 2nd in Santa Clara.
## 🏟️ Tonight’s Blockbuster: France vs Norway — Mbappe Meets Haaland
All eyes turn to **Boston Stadium on Friday** as **France** take on **Norway** in what effectively serves as a playoff for top spot in Group I.
Both teams have already secured qualification, but the matchup of two of world football’s greatest forwards is unmissable:
| Stat | Kylian Mbappe 🇫🇷 | Erling Haaland 🇳🇴 |
|——|——————-|——————-|
| World Cup goals (2026) | 4 | 4 |
| International goals | 60 (100 apps) | 59 (52 apps) |
| Team win % with player | 69.8% | 64.5% |
| Win % without player | 50% | 33.3% |
Haaland has scored in **12 consecutive competitive internationals** and has 16 goals in his last 6 matches for Norway. Mbappe trails Lionel Messi (5) by just one goal in the Golden Boot race.
## 🇳🇱 Netherlands Beat Tunisia, Set Up Morocco Clash
The Netherlands cruised past Tunisia 3-1 to finish top of Group F. An early own goal from Tunisia captain Ellyes Skhiri and a tap-in from Sunderland’s **Brian Brobbey** — his third of the tournament — put the Dutch 2-0 up inside 7 minutes. A late header from Jan Paul van Hecke sealed the win.
The Oranje will now face **Morocco** — the 2022 semi-finalists — in the last 32 on Tuesday in Monterrey.
## 🤔 Format Debate: Does the 48-Team System Work?
Australia and Paraguay’s **0-0 draw** in San Francisco has reignited debate about the expanded tournament format. Both teams needed just a point to progress, and neither took risks. Critics argue that allowing **eight third-placed teams** to qualify removes jeopardy from group-stage matches.
Games like Austria vs Algeria (Sunday) could see similar calculated draws, as both sides sit on three points with everything to gain from a stalemate.
On the flip side, **underdog stories** have been one of the tournament’s highlights. **Cape Verde** (ranked 64th) held Spain to a goalless draw, **South Africa** — ranked 54th — shocked South Korea 1-0 to reach the knockout stage for the first time, and **Ghana** took a point off England.
## 👋 Teams Eliminated So Far
Eight nations have already been sent home:
– **Turkey** (despite beating USA)
– **Qatar**
– **Czech Republic**
– **Haiti**
– **Tunisia**
– **Jordan**
– **Panama**
– **Curacao**
## 📅 Upcoming Key Fixtures
| Match | Date | Time (ET) | Venue |
|——-|——|———–|——-|
| France vs Norway | Fri, June 26 | 8:00 PM | Boston Stadium |
| Germany vs Paraguay | Mon, June 29 | TBD | — |
| Brazil vs Japan | Mon, June 29 | TBD | — |
| USA vs Bosnia-Herzegovina | Thu, July 2 | TBD | Santa Clara |
| Netherlands vs Morocco | Tue, June 30 | TBD | Monterrey |
## 🔮 Looking Ahead
The round of 32 is taking shape, with several blockbuster potential matchups. France or Norway could face Sweden. Brazil could meet Japan. And the US will look to bounce back from their Turkey loss when they face Bosnia-Herzegovina on July 2nd.
With the expanded knockout stage, 32 teams remain in contention — but the margin for error is about to shrink dramatically. The real World Cup starts now.
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*This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, PC Master Deals earns from qualifying purchases. All stats and scores sourced from BBC Sport and official FIFA data.*