Turkey become 'unofficial world champions' despite crashing out at World Cup group stage

Turkey were crowned the unofficial world champions on Thursday after they ended the United States' unbeaten start to the World Cup.

It has been a tournament to forget for Turkey. Despite having 62 shots across games against Group D opponents Australia and Paraguay, they somehow failed to score a single goal.

To put that dismal record into perspective, there is no record of a team failing to hit the net with so many attempts over a two-match stretch.

Vincenzo Montella's side were already eliminated heading into their final group-stage game against the United States, but they did at least manage to claw back some dignity in California.

For the third game running, the US made a superb start as centre-back Auston Trusty scored the second-fastest goal by the US at a World Cup after netting in the third minute.

Arda Guler, who would go on to be named Player of the Match, equalised a short time later, becoming the youngest player to score a goal for Turkey at the tournament, aged 21 years and 120 days.

Arda Guler poses with the POTM award after his performance against the United States. Image credit: Getty

And just after the half-hour mark, the co-hosts found themselves behind for the first time this tournament, when Barıs Alper Yılmaz converted Eren Elmali’s cutback past Matt Turner.

The US clearly needed a motivational talk from Mauricio Pochettino at half-time. Just four minutes after the restart, Sebastian Berhalter found the bottom corner with a powerful effort.

It looked like Turkey would go home without a win at this summer's tournament but deep into stoppage time, Kaan Ayhan celebrated a dramatic late winner.

Turkey become unofficial world champions after win over the US

As well as the three points, Turkey were once again crowned the unofficial world champions following their 3-2 victory.

For context, the United States claimed the honour of unofficial world champs when they defeated Australia 2-0 in their second group stage on June 19.

The Socceroos previously held the title coming into the World Cup after they claimed it in March 2026, when they defeated Kosovo.

So, how do you become an unofficial world champion?

The Unofficial Football World Championships is an informal way of calculating the world's best international side, with the idea stemming from when Scotland beat England in the 1967 Nations Championship.

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Scotland sit top of the Unofficial Football World Championships table. Image credit: The UFWC

To secure the title, a nation must beat the current holders of the informal honour in a knockout title system similar to that used in some combat sports.

England were the inaugural winners after their 4-2 victory in March 1873, after they retroactively went back to the earliest international fixtures between the Three Lions and Scotland.

For those unaware, the title has been dominated by England and Scotland. In fact, the latter have claimed it 86 times, the most of any nation. However, they were last crowned champions in March 2007.

England are 73-time winners, with the last time being all the way back in June 2000, while Turkey have won it four times.