Suffering from a severe lack of first-team talent, the United States men begin their ramp-up to the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup with the first of two international friendlies, this coming against Turkey from Rentschler Field in Hartford, Connecticut on Saturday.
Mauricio Pochettino is without a litany of first-choice regulars due to any number of issues, from desired rest to injuries to club participation and everything in between. The likes of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and many others will not take part, all for different stated concerns they would have with summer international participation.
It has put a serious damper on the Gold Cup, with fans hoping to see the team’s best players on the field with the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil fast approaching. Yet they will have to do with a long list of backups instead, with fringe players aiming for a chance to prove themselves to Pochettino’s staff.
The friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland will provide maybe an even stiffer test than the Gold Cup itself, coming against two established European sides. Turkey are up first, ranked 27th in the world and featuring a number of players contracted to top European clubs.
USA vs. Turkey predicted lineups, team news
For their final competitive matches before next summer’s World Cup on home soil, the United States are without a significant number of first-team regulars for myriad reasons.
The likes of Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah were left off the roster at the players’ behest, having asked to rest for the summer. Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, and Gio Reyna are all participating in the Club World Cup and have stayed with their clubs, while Josh Sargent, Joe Scally, and Tanner Tessmann were all passed over for “football reasons” as Pochettino described it.
MORE: A full breakdown of the USMNT roster for the 2025 Gold Cup
Meanwhile, Antonee Robinson had knee surgery to solve a chronic issue that has plagued him for months, Folarin Balogun sustained an ankle injury, Ricardo Pepi continues to rehab from a long-term knee injury, Sergino Dest withdrew from the squad to protect his recent recovery from a torn ACL, and Zack Steffen suffered a knee injury in pre-tournament camp.
The list of absentees is long and brings a disappointing atmosphere to the Gold Cup before it even begins. It also means there is a severe lack of right-sided players on the roster, meaning Pochettino will have to get creative.
USA predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Turner (GK) — Freeman, Richards, Ream, Arfsten — Cardoso, Adams — Luna, Tillman, Wright — Agyemang
Full USA squad
Goalkeepers: Chris Brady, Matt Freese, Matt Turner
Defenders: Max Arfsten, Alex Freeman, Nathan Harriel, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Miles Robinson, John Tolkin, Walker Zimmerman
Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson, Paxten Aaronson, Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Johnny Cardoso, Luca de la Torre, Diego Luna, Jack McGlynn, Quinn Sullivan, Malik Tillman
Forwards: Patrick Agyemang, Damion Downs, Brian White, Haji Wright.
Unlike the United States, Turkey have a nearly fully fit roster with a number of first-choice players back from absences. Most notably, center-back duo Caglar Soyuncu and Merih Demiral are both returning to the squad after missing out in the March international window due to injuries. Soyuncu in particular has missed significant time with the national team and will benefit from minutes on the field in a friendly.
The only notable injury absences for Turkey are those of Enes Unal and Yunus Akgun, with the former having torn his ACL a few months ago with Bournemouth and the latter also dealing with a knee issue.
Hakan Calhanoglu captains the side from midfield, but it’s possible he could be rested in this first of two friendlies coming off defeat in the Champions League final with Inter Milan just a week ago.
Turkey predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Bayindir (GK) — Celik, Demiral, Soyuncu, Elmali — Yuksek, Calhanoglu — Yilmaz, Guler, Yildiz — Akturkoglu
Full Turkey squad
Goalkeepers: Altay Bayindir, Ugurcan Cakir, Berke Ozer, Muhammed Sengezer
Defenders: Samet Akaydin, Yusuf Akcicek, Zeki Celik, Merih Demiral, Eren Elmali, Mustafa Eskihellac, Mert Muldur, Yasin Ozcan, Caglar Soyuncu
Midfielders: Kaan Ayhan, Hakan Calhanoglu, Arda Guler, Orkun Kokcu, Salih Ozcan, Demir Ege Tiknaz, Okay Yokuslu
Forwards: Kerem Akturkoglu, Oguz Aydin, Deniz Gul, Mustafa Hekimoglu, Irfan Can Kahveci, Can Uzun, Baris Alper Yilmaz, Kenan Yildiz.
USA vs. Turkey score prediction
Not only are the United States without many of their best and most popular players, but they are up against maybe the summer’s stiffest competition in these two pre-Gold Cup friendlies.
Until they face Canada or Mexico (if they don’t flunk out of the tournament before that), the U.S. won’t meet anyone of comparable competitiveness, and even then one could argue that the European opponents for the next two days are better than their most formidable CONCACAF rivals.
Without the likes of Pulisic and other top talent, the U.S. will struggle to break down a quality Turkey side. While the hosts may be able to impose themselves physically in midfield, with Guler and Calhanoglu lacking in that department, they are decidedly second-best on the technical side, and the back line is a disaster. Turkey should manage to win with room to spare.
Prediction: USA 0-2 Turkey
USA vs. Turkey live stream, TV channel
- Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025
- Time (ET): 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
- TV channel (English): TNT, truTV
- Streaming (English): Sling, HBO Max
- TV channel (Spanish): Telemundo, Universo
- Streaming (Spanish): Fubo, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes en Vivo, Universo NOW
Like all USMNT friendlies under the current long-term media rights deal with Turner Sports, this match will be televised on TNT and truTV, which can be found streaming on Sling as well as Turner’s dedicated platform HBO Max.
The match can also be found in Spanish on Telemundo and Universo, which are streaming on Fubo as well as NBC’s dedicated platform Peacock.
