Following their performance in the Concacaf Nations League, the United States men`s national team faces Turkiye in a friendly match. This game serves as key preparation for the upcoming Gold Cup, which begins in just over a week. The current international break is unusual, with factors like the Club World Cup and player rest significantly impacting squad selection. As a result, coach Mauricio Pochettino`s team for this match is without several regular starters, including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Sergino Dest, Gio Reyna, and Folarin Balogun.
Turkiye, ranked 27th in the FIFA men`s rankings, represents one of the more challenging opponents the USMNT will face. With a squad primarily drawn from Major League Soccer, this friendly offers a significant test for Pochettino`s tactical setup and the depth of the American pool.
How to watch USMNT vs. Turkiye, odds
- Date: Saturday, June 7 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Pratt & Whitney Stadium — East Hartford, Connecticut
- TV: TNT | Live stream: Fubo (try for free)
- Odds: USMNT +165; Draw +220; Türkiye +145
Last meeting
These teams last met in 2014, when the United States defeated Turkiye in a warm-up game before the World Cup in Brazil. The U.S. team reached the knockout stage in that tournament before losing to Belgium in extra time. Despite the gap of 11 years since that match, Hakan Calhanoglu, who came on as a substitute in 2014, is expected to start and play a crucial role in Turkiye`s midfield for this upcoming friendly.
What the coaches are saying
Given the relative inexperience of the current roster on the international stage, Pochettino was questioned about the squad`s capability to win these matches before the Gold Cup. He quickly dismissed this idea.
`I think we need to respect the players that are here. We need to respect every single player and see if we are good enough,` Pochettino stated. `I will let you know after. We weren`t good enough to win the Nations League. We were not good enough, if we go back to the World Cup, we were not good enough to win the World Cup in 2022. I think we cannot judge or analyze in this way. I think we need to wait, and then if we win, so happy. If we don`t win, you can criticize.`
While his assessment of past performance is accurate, this camp represents a critical opportunity for Pochettino to elevate the team to a level where they can consistently win such games. Since taking charge in September 2024, this is his longest continuous period with the squad, providing a chance for tactical improvements. If the team still struggles to perform well after this extended preparation time, it could raise concerns about the team`s ultimate potential under his leadership.
How does the midfield shake out?
With new players in camp like Sebastian Berhalter and Quinn Sullivan, Pochettino has expanded options in midfield. Sullivan has played for the USMNT at youth levels and, while often a winger for his club, has experience in central roles. Alongside established players such as Jack McGlynn, Luca De La Torre, Malik Tillman, Diego Luna, and Tyler Adams, Pochettino has several potential directions for the midfield setup in this friendly. The choices made here could have significant implications for player selection for the future, including a potential World Cup squad.
Predicted lineups
USMNT: Matt Turner, John Tolkin, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Nathan Harriel, Tyler Adams, Johnny Cardoso, Diego Luna, Malik Tillman, Patrick Agyemang, Haji Wright
Türkiye: Ugurcan Cakir, Mert Muldur, Samet Akaydin, Caglar Soyuncu, Mustafa Eskihellac, Salih Ozcan, Hakan Calhanoglu, Arda Guler, Kenan Yildiz, Baris Yilmaz, Kerem Akturkoglu
Player to watch
John Tolkin, Holstein Kiel: This is Tolkin`s first USMNT camp since his club was relegated from the Bundesliga. However, he showed promising form for Holstein Kiel after joining in January. With Antonee Robinson unavailable, Tolkin has a chance to potentially secure the starting left-back position, a role where the USMNT currently lacks a clear backup. Developing depth across multiple positions will be crucial for success, especially looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, making the identification of Robinson`s backup a priority.
Storyline to watch
Which USMNT shows up? If the USMNT performs as they did in the recent Concacaf Nations League matches against Panama and Canada, it would be a considerable disappointment, as that level of play would likely not be sufficient to beat Turkiye. With the next World Cup looming, the team needs to show improvement. While winning this friendly isn`t necessarily mandatory, a significantly improved performance is definitely required to avoid questioning whether Pochettino is the right coach for the job.
Prediction
In what is expected to be a tightly contested match featuring pressing tactics from both sides, the game is likely to end in a draw. It should still be an engaging encounter. Arda Guler is predicted to score for Turkiye, before Brian White comes off the bench to salvage a draw for the USMNT. While the performance might not be aesthetically pleasing, the result could still provide a necessary boost in confidence for this developing squad.
Pick: USMNT 1, Turkiye 1
