Turkey edged a fiercely contested Group D opener at SoFi Stadium, with Arda Güler's genius proving the difference against a USA side that fought back bravely but ultimately ran out of answers. Vincenzo Montella set Turkey up in a fluid 4-2-3-1, with Hakan Çalhanoğlu anchoring deep and Güler given licence to roam behind lone striker Deniz Gül. The USA, missing the suspended Weston McKennie, asked Tyler Adams to carry an extra defensive burden alongside Malik Tillman in a 4-3-3 that looked slightly undercooked in the middle third. Turkey broke the deadlock on 23 minutes through a move of real quality: Çalhanoğlu played a disguised through-ball into the channel, and Güler — cutting inside from the right — curled a precise left-footed finish into the far corner past Matt Turner. The USA responded with energy, and Pulisic drew a foul from Ferdi Kadıoğlu inside the box just after the hour mark. The Milan forward stepped up himself and sent Turner's opposite number the wrong way to level at 1-1. The equaliser seemed to galvanise the hosts, but Turkey's double change on 68 minutes — introducing Barış Alper Yılmaz and İrfan Can Kahveci — injected fresh pace on the flanks. It was Güler, inevitably, who conjured the winner: a delicate reverse pass split the USA's back line on 76 minutes, and Kenan Yıldız, arriving late from the left, slid a composed finish under Turner. The USA pushed for an equaliser but found Merih Demiral and Çağlar Söyüncü resolute — if occasionally reckless — at the back. Turkey hold on for a vital three points in what promises to be a tight group.

• Arda Güler registered a goal and an assist — his creative brilliance was the decisive difference on the night.
• Turkey's high press yielded 7 ball recoveries in the USA's half, disrupting Pulisic's link-up play for long stretches.
• Christian Pulisic's penalty was his 5th goal in World Cup finals, underlining his status as the USA's talisman.
• The USA created 0 big chances from open play in the second half after Turkey's double substitution reshaped the midfield.
• Kenan Yıldız's 76th-minute winner was Turkey's first World Cup goal from a player born after 2000.
• SoFi Stadium's 70,000-strong crowd split evenly, creating an electric atmosphere that lifted both sides.