USA and Turkey will face off in a friendly game ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The United States national team comes into the game after two straight defeats in the CONCACAF Nations League. They lost to Canada and Panama, which raised concerns about their current form. In contrast, Turkey have won two in a row and carry growing confidence. They have looked sharper and more composed in recent matches, which makes this game a strong test for both sides.
Pochettino has faced difficulties against the best national teams in CONCACAF losing against both Canada and Mexico. Despite the setbacks, the young squad remains full of potential. Many players are still developing and gaining international experience. That gives the team time to grow before the 2026 World Cup. USMNT head coach’s task is to keep the group focused and progressing to reach their peak form in the tournament ahead.
Meanwhile, Turkey arrive in great form and full of confidence. Under Italian manager Vincenzo Montella, they have built a strong identity. The team includes rising stars like Kenan Yildiz of Juventus and Arda Guler of Real Madrid. Both players are among Europe’s top young talents. Turkey recently reached the semifinals of Euro 2024, proving their ability to shine.
USA confirmed lineup vs Turkey
The USA national team face more than just the challenge of taking on a rising European side, as Turkey have been steadily developing their young talent. Mauricio Pochettino also enters the match shorthanded, missing several core players like Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah, who are recovering after wrapping up demanding seasons in Europe.
Ramiro Vaca of Bolivia challenges for the ball with Johnny Cardoso of United States during the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Group C match between United States and Bolivia at AT&T Stadium on June 23, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.
Pochettino will also be without Weston McKennie, Timothy Weah, and Giovanni Reyna, who remain committed to their clubs for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup. As a result, the USMNT will unveil a lineup full of new faces: Matt Freese; Alex Freeman, Chris Richards, Miles Robinson, Maximilian Arfsten; Johnny Cardoso, Luca de la Torre; Jack McGlynn, Malik Tillman, Diego Luna; Patrick Agyemang.
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Turkey confirmed lineup vs USA
While the USMNT deals with a long list of absentees, Turkey arrive nearly at full strength. Head coach Vincenzo Montella will miss only Yunus Akgun and Enes Unal, giving him a deep pool of talent to choose from, including Real Madrid star Arda Guler.
With no major UEFA matches scheduled until early September 2025, Montella could take full advantage of this window to field his top squad and maintain a high competitive rhythm. For that reason Turkey’s lineup will look as follows: Berke Ozer; Zeki Celik, Caglar Soyuncu, Merih Demiral, Eren Elmali; Ismail Yuksek, Oguz Aydin; Arda Guler, Orkun Kokcu, Kerem Akturkoglu; Kenan Yildiz.
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