Five Things to Know: USMNT vs. Türkiye

The first opponent on the USMNT’s summer schedule is Türkiye, and the two countries will face off in East Hartford, Conn. on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET (TNT, truTV and Max; Universo and Peacock in Spanish; Westwood One Sports on radio).

It marks the first of two friendlies the USA will play heading into the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup. As the National Team gears up for the biennial tournament, they’ll also be preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which also takes place on home soil.

“I think it's an amazing opportunity for us, to test ourselves and to have the opportunity to play with a team that [did] great last year,” head coach Mauricio Pochettino said.

Here's what you need to know before watching the U.S. takes on Türkiye:

1. Gold Cup Tune-Up

In just over a week after this match, the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup will commence. This match — and the following friendly against Switzerland — will give the USA the opportunity to prepare for the confederation tournament.

The last time the USMNT played together was in the Nations League, Concacaf’s newer regional tournament. The USA finished fourth, but the Americans look ahead toward potentially capturing an eighth trophy of Concacaf’s premier cup.

“I think now it's a great opportunity to be together [for] nearly one month, one month and a half,” Pochettino said. “... The important thing now is to trust in this roster and try to compete, believing that we can win.”

2. New faces, Same Opportunity

This roster for the friendlies features six new players. Goalkeepers Matt Freese and Chris Brady, defenders Alex Freeman and Quinn Sullivan, midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, and forward Damion Downs got their first call-up. All were also listed on the Gold Cup roster.

The roster also includes 12 players with five or fewer caps. Historically, this has provided a prime opportunity for players to make their mark. Since 1993, every U.S. Gold Cup roster in the year leading up to a World Cup has featured at least one player who later earned a spot on the final World Cup squad. In total, 12 players with five or fewer caps have made that leap.

3. Hartford Homecoming

It’s been quite the year for Patrick Agyemang. First, he got his first National Team call-up, first cap and first international goal in January.

Now, he’ll get the chance to play for his country in front of his hometown. Agyemang grew up in East Hartford, Conn. He went to high school just a couple of miles down the road from Pratt & Whitney, where the USMNT will battle Türkiye.

“It's definitely exciting,” Agyemang said. “I've grown up around this stadium my whole life, and to see it, and to have this opportunity to be there, it's going to be amazing. For me, it's a nice feeling because it shows your commitment paid off.”

4. Brotherly Love

Brenden and Paxten Aaronson have both been named to the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for the friendlies and the 2025 Gold Cup roster. While the brothers are both capped, they haven’t played together for the USA. If they take the field together, they’ll be the just the second brother duo since James and Russell Murphy in 1957.

“It would mean everything,” Paxten said. “It’s something you dream about as a kid — playing alongside your brother, wearing your country’s colors in a real competition.”

Brenden was originally named to the June training camp roster, but Paxten was a late addition after injuries to some players who reported for camp. Paxten, 21, most recently suited up for the Paris Olympics, while Brenden, 24, also last competed for the USMNT in 2024.

“He really deserved this,” Brenden said. “He had an unbelievable season, and I’m just proud to see him here.”

5. USMNT vs. Türkiye history

It’s been over 10 years since the U.S. Men’s National Team faced Türkiye. The Mediterranean country hasn’t competed against a North American opponent since that meeting against the U.S. in June 2014, just weeks before the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Turkeydidn’t qualify for the tournament, while the U.S. ended its run in the Round of 16 against Belgium.

The two countries have sparred a total of four times, dating back to 1991. The USMNT has a 2W-1L-1D over Turkey with six goals for and five against. The USA won the last two matches and took the only loss in 2003 in the FIFA Confederations Cup, a tournament disbanded in 2017. The first meeting in September 1991 ended in a 1-1 draw.