Can the USMNT impress ahead of crucial fixtures?
Mauricio Pochettino’s Team USA is set to host Eurasian giants Turkey in an international friendly on Saturday. Months after their 1-2 defeat to Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League third place match, the Stars and Stripes will look to return to winning ways ahead of the CONCACAF Gold Cup which begins in the middle of June. However, Türkiye will be no pushover.
The Middle Eastern side will enter the Rentschler Field in Hartford on the back of consecutive victories over Hungary in March. The wins confirmed that Vincenzo Montella and co. will be promoted to League A in the UEFA Nations League. Türkiye, or the Crescent Stars as they have fondly been christened, have lost just 1 out of their last 8 encounters. They will look to carry this form into the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers – where they aim to qualify for their first showpiece event since 2002.
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On the other hand, the USMNT has come under a whirlwind of scrutiny for their lack of consistency. A lack of trust in the MLS system, paired with no fluency in their game, has left fans questioning their chances at home next year. But Pochettino, who has previously managed both of this year’s European champions (PSG and Tottenham), will take solace in the fact that the Yanks have lost only 1 out of 7 tussles at the Rentschler Stadium.
Team USA has won the last two match-ups against the Turks. Both these encounters were played on American turf.
Star American attacker Christian Pulisic will not feature over the weekend for his nation. The AC Milan forward has pulled out of the fixtures due to possible fatigue. Midfield duo of Folarin Balogun and Yunus Musah have also been withdrawn from the squad – due to an ankle injury and personal reasons respectively. Antonee Robinson is also on the sidelines owing to a knee issue.
Meanwhile Alexander Freeman, Chris Brady, Damion Downs, Matt Freese, Nathan Harriel, Quinn Sullivan and Sebastian Berhalter have been called up. They are in line to represent their country for the first time. Striker Patrick Agyemang scored the USMNT’s solitary goal against Canada, and will return to his hometown of East Hartford over the weekend.
For the Turks, there are several changes to the squad ahead of their FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in September. Hakan Calhanoglu is set to lead the side after a heartbreaking UEFA Champions League final loss with Inter Milan. Real Madrid star Arda Guler is also likely to feature.
There are also six potential debutants who have been called up for the friendlies – Mustafa Hekimoglu, Demir Tiknaz, Mustafa Eskihellac, Yasin Ozcan, Berke Ozer and Muhammed Sengezer.
USA: Turner; Dest, McKenzie, Ream, Arfsten; de la Torre, Adams; Cardoso, Tillman, Wright; Agyemang
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Türkiye: Bayindir; Muldur, Demiral, Soyuncu, Elmali; Yuksek, Calhanoglu; Yilmaz, Guler, Yildiz; Akturkoglu
