The first opponent of the USMNT summer calendar is Türkiye, and the two countries will compete in East Hartford, Conn. Saturday at 3.30 p.m. (TNT, Trutv and Max; Universo and Peacock in Spanish; Westwood One Sports on the radio).
He marks the first of the two friendly matches that the United States will play in the Concacaf Gold Cup 2025. While the national team is preparing for the biennial tournament, they will also prepare for the FIFA 2026 World Cup, which also takes place on home.
“I think this is an incredible opportunity for us, to test ourselves and to have the opportunity to play with a team that has (a) big last year,” said head coach Mauricio Pocsettino.
Here’s what you need to know before watching the United States Take Türkiye:
1. Gold Cup Ting-Up
In just over a week after this match, the Concacaf Gold Cup 2025 will start. This match – and the following friendly against Switzerland – will give the United States the opportunity to prepare for the Confederation Tournament.
The last time the USMNT played together was in the League of Nations, the most recent regional tournament in Concacaf. The United States has finished fourth, but the Americans are looking towards the potential capture of an eighth trophy of the first Concacaf cup.
“I think now is an excellent opportunity to be together (for) almost a month, a month and a half,” Pocsettino said. “… The important thing is now to trust this list and try to compete, believing that we can win.”
2. New faces, same opportunity
This list for friendly matches presents six new players. The goalkeepers Matt Freese and Chris Brady, defenders Alex Freeman and Quinn Sullivan, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, and striker Damion Downs obtained their first call. All were also listed on the list of Gold Cup.
The list also includes 12 players with five caps or less. Historically, this allowed players an opportunity to make their brand. Since 1993, each list of the US Gold Cup of the year preceding a World Cup presented at least one player who then obtained a place in the last team of the World Cup. In total, 12 players with five caps or less made this jump.
3. Hartford Homecoming
It was all year round for Patrick Agyemang. First, he obtained his first national team call, his first ceiling and his first international goal in January.
Now he will have the chance to play for his country in front of his hometown. AGYEMANG grew up at East Hartford, in Connecticut, he went to high school a few kilometers a few kilometers from Pratt & Whitney, where the USMNT BATRA Türkiye.
“It’s really exciting,” said Agyemang. “I grew up around this stage all my life, and to see it, and to have this opportunity to be there, it will be incredible. For me, it is a pleasant feeling because it shows that your commitment is paid. ”
4. Fraternal love
Brenden and Paxtten Aaronson were both appointed to the alignment of the American national male team for friendly matches and the list of the Gold Cup 2025. Although the brothers are both capped, they did not play together for the United States. If they take the ground together, they will be the just the second brother duo since James and Russell Murphy in 1957.
“It would mean everything,” said Paxtten. “This is something you dream of when you were a child – playing alongside your brother, carrying the colors of your country in a real competition.”
Brenden was initially appointed to the list of training camps in June, but Paxtten was a late addition after injuries to certain players who brought the camp. Penten, 21, recently adapted to the Paris Olympic Games, while Brenden, 24, also competed for the USMNT in 2024.
“He really deserved it,” said Brenden. “He has had an incredible season, and I’m just proud to see him here.”
5. USMNT against Türkiye History
It has been over 10 years since the American male male team faced Türkiye. The Mediterranean country has not contributed against a North American opponent since this meeting against the United States in June 2014, just a few weeks before the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Turkey does not qualify for the tournament, while the United States has finished its race in the knockout stages against Belgium.
The two countries clashed four times in total, going back to 1991. The USMNT has a 2W-1L-1 on Turkey with six goals for five against. The United States won the last two games and won the only defeat in 2003 at the FIFA Confederations Cup, a tournament dissolved in 2017. The first meeting in September 1991 ended with a 1-1 draw.
