Names will be made this summer in United States men’s national team action, which began with a 2-1 friendly loss to Turkiye in East Hartford on Saturday.
PLAYER RATINGS — USMNT 1-2 Turkiye
Jack McGlynn scored after 59 seconds but the Yanks’ sloppy play in their box — including a bonafide gaffe from Johnny Cardoso — put them behind before the half-hour mark.
Arda Guler scored his first international goal on Cardoso’s mistake, and Kerem Akturkoglu also scored as Turkiye struck twice in three first-half minutes.
Young, short-staffed Yanks learn lessons
All things considered, the USMNT can count this as a positive experience. Johnny Cardoso’s absurd error on Turkiye’s equalizer isn’t going to happen often and the side’s poor 20 (or so) first-half minutes can be chalked up to inexperience. Remember: These Yanks were without Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Timothy Weah, Sergino Dest, Antonee Robinson, and others. Plus, Pochettino started with Tyler Adams on the bench. As a one-off, this game against a very good Turkiye is acceptable. The good news is the next challenge is just as strong, with Switzerland coming to Nashville on Tuesday. Now’s the time to rebound.
How to watch USMNT vs Turkiye, stream link, start time
Kickoff: Saturday, June 7, 3:30pm ET
Location: Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut
TV: Telemundo, Universo
Stream en Espanol: Peacock
USMNT vs Turkiye final score: 1-2
Jack McGlynn 1', Arda Guler 24', Kerem Akturoglu 27'
More subs
Brian White enters for Agyemang.
Past the chippy tipping point
Maybe we call it the chipping point.
Turkiye have taken offense to what they feel is harsh USMNT fouling, and the feeling was already mutual.
Subs...
Quinn Sullivan, Nathan Harriel, and Haji Wright enter for Arfsten, Luna, and McGlynn.
Arfsten slices wide
Tillman sends a good cross to the back post, where Arfsten takes it out of the sky and slashes at goal.
De la Torre was crying a cut back, central with a look at the frame.
Close again!
Agyemang takes down a tricky pass from McGlynn and sends De la Torre toward the right corner.
The San Diego midfielder sends an arrow of a cross to the back post, where it’s met by Arfsten header that bounces wide of goal.
Soon Agyemang has a chance off a Luna slide tackle, but the Rhode Island graduate plugs the ball into the keeper’s chest from 18 yards.
53'.
Should be 2-2
Diego Luna’s short corner is set for Luca de la Torre to chop toward the near post, but he instead shanks it away from the goal.
USMNT subs
Mark McKenzie and Tyler Adams check in for Miles Robinson and Johnny Cardoso.
Halftime — USMNT 1-2 Turkiye
It got better in the five minutes before halftime but there was a solid 20 minutes of disappointment from the USMNT after such a bright start.
Turkiye look so good with the ball, putting five of their nine shots on target and winning five corners on a slick pitch in East Hartford.
Malik Tillman has been the star of the show for the USMNT, although McGlynn’s fantastic goal will get deserved love, too.
Kerem Akturoglu goal — USMNT 2-1 Turkiye (27th minute)
The Yanks are off their game.
Messy, messy stuff at the back. Guler plays his part again in the play, but it’s Benfica man Akturoglu who slaps home a loose ball.
Arda Guler goal — USMNT 1-1 Turkiye (24th minute)
Johnny Cardoso tries a flair pass from inside his box, and it smacks off the knee of Arda Guler and into the U.S. goal.
Matt Freese didn’t have a chance. On the heels of 5-6 Turkiye corners, this game has a new feel.
For a player of Guler’s quality, we may one day look back at this monstrosity being his first Turkiye goal and smirk.
One of the weirdest goals you'll see. 🫨
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) June 7, 2025
The USMNT's Johnny Cardoso tries to clear but it bounces off Arda Guler and into the net for a Turkiye equalizer.
📺 Telemundo, NBC Universo & Peacock pic.twitter.com/9yHJUikZxK
Freese makes a save
Kerem Akturoglu lays into a hopeful but powerful left-footed shot from 21 yards or so, and Freese slaps it over the bar.
USMNT off the hook as Guler skies chance
A nice ball unlocks the left flank for Turkiye, and key-holder Merih Demiral will collect praise but Arda Guler will not.
The Real Madrid man finds a brilliant spot 12 yards out from goal but sends the ball into the seats.
Still 1-0 USMNT in the 20th minute.
Jack McGlynn goal — USMNT 1-0 Turkiye (1st minute)
Remember the name if you didn’t already take note from his exemplary play with Philadelphia.
Jack McGlynn gets the ball on the right wing and Turkiye give him room to get on his left foot for a simply picturesque, moving finish across goal and inside the far post.
PSV Eindhoven’s Malik Tillman on the assist.
Underway
The Yanks are in dark blue, while Turkiye sport all white kits with a thick horizontal red stripe across their chests.
What to watch: Guler vs the USMNT backs
Well, Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz, two very good 20-year-olds from massive clubs in Real Madrid and Juventus, respectively.
The Yanks will be challenged everywhere, but Turkiye’s attack is the one area in which they may have a significant advantage on the U.S.
And Turkiye coach Vincenzo Montella has his team well-prepared for games.
Woah
Pochettino does not start Tyler Adams, opting for Luca de la Torre in partnership with Johnny Cardoso in the heart of the midfield.
There’s space for Malik Tillman, too, and captain Chris Richards is the only other starter based outside of MLS.
Matt Freese starts over Matt Turner in goal, while Patrick Agyemang starts up top instead of Haji Wright.
USMNT lineup
Freese, Arfsten, Richards, M. Robinson, Freeman, Cardoso, De la Torre, McGlynn, Luna, Tillman, Ageymang.
Turkiye lineup
Ozer, Celik, Demiral, Soyuncu, Kokcu, Akturkoglu, Guler, Yildig, Elmalu, Yuksek, Aydin
USMNT vs Turkiye preview
The international friendly pits the Yanks against a top-25 team for the first of two UEFA friendlies, with Switzerland coming soon, and good performances will show Pochettino a player’s potential against similar opposition in the 2026 World Cup.
The nerves will be plenty for the USMNT players, who have chances to be center stage while Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah, Antonee Robinson, and others are absent from the fold.
But there are still a lot of regulars here, as Tyler Adams and Johnny Cardoso keep things steady and vicious in the midfield and Chris Richards gets more time as one of the leaders at the back.
Richards returns to the team with an FA Cup on his resume, and Crystal Palace teammate Matt Turner is likely to also start for the USMNT.
USMNT team news, focus
Who is going to seize the opportunities presented in the front four positions in the team?
Patrick Agyemang, Haji Wright, Damion Downs, and Brian White all have claims of form and will feel they can claim the center forward spot with Folarin Balogun leaving camp through injury.
Malik Tillman can show so much without Reyna, Weah, and Pulisic, and has to be thrilled at the prospect of orchestrating the attack in front of steady midfielders.
The wings are very intriguing, as we’ll learn how highly Pochettino already rates Diego Luna, and there are a bunch of talented options who could claim starting spots.
Turkiye team news, focus
The Crescent Stars essentially cruised through Nations League B, winning promotion with a decisive two-legged triumph over Hungary.
Former AC Milan and Sevilla boss Vincenzo Montella is missing some familiar names for this match as Bournemouth’s Enes Unal, Brighton’s Ferdi Kadioglu, and Hoffenheim’s Ozan Kabak are out through injury and Cenk Tosun was not called into the team.
This is a squad based largely in Turkiye’s top flight, but Real Madrid starlet Arda Guler and Juventus young star Kenan Yildiz — both 20 years old — are in the fold.
Dortmund midfielder Salih Ozcan and Inter Milan hero Hakan Calhanoglu, the side’s captain, lead the way in the midfield. Man United backstop Altay Bayindir and Trabzonspor keeper Ugurcan Cakir are the keepers with experience.
This is a solid team with lots of experience. Many will know the names Merih Demiral, Caglar Soyuncu, Mert Muldur, Okay Yokuslu, and Orkun Kokcu. It’s a huge test for this USMNT.
USMNT vs Turkiye prediction
Anything can happen in these friendlies once teams start making loads of subs in the second half, so it’s almost more worthwhile to predict the score after 55 minutes or so. Either way, we’ll venture chances in this one. We also expect a gritty midfield battle that sees both sides finding the ball on the perimeter. The hosts will be slight favorites to win here, but we’ll take that down a notch. USMNT 1-1 Turkiye.
