The countdown to the 2026 World Cup continued for the U.S. men’s national team on Saturday in a 2-1 loss to Turkey in a friendly in East Hartford, Conn.
Jack McGlynn scored 59 seconds into the match before Arda Guler in the 24th minute and Kerem Akturkoglu in the 27th gave Turkey the lead.
With the World Cup beginning in one year and four days, coach Mauricio Pochettino, on the job since September, assembled out of necessity a makeshift 26-man roster which includes six newcomers and 12 players with five or fewer appearance.
This is the group that will compete in the CONCACAF Gold Cup beginning June 15, the last competitive tournament for the U.S. until the World Cup.
The U.S was without mainstays Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Gio Reyna because of the upcoming Club World Cup; Christian Pulisic is resting while Antonee Robinson, Folarin Balogun and Sergino Dest are among those regulars who are injured.
Goalkeeper Matt Freese of New York City FC and Orlando City defender Alex Freeman started in the U.S. debuts and Philadelphia Union teammates Nathan Harriel and Quinn Sullivan made their first appearances in the 65th minute.
Opportunities to impress Pochettino abound over the next month and McGlynn took advantage. Accepting a pass on the right flank by Malik Tillman, he cut toward the middle of the field and ripped a left-footed strike to the far netting for the early lead.
He has two goals in his two starts.
The lead evaporated on an unforced poor clearance by Johnny Cardoso in front of the goal that deflected off Guler and past the stunned Freese. It took only 2:20 for the Turks to move ahead when the U.S. defense was scrambling, leaving Akturkoglu unmarked.
The U.S had a chance for the equalizer in the 61st minute but Tillman headed a cross from Tyler Adams directly at keeper Berke Ozer.
Turkey did not have a shot attempt in the second half until the 83rd minute as the U.S. dominated play
The U.S. plays Switzerland in another friendly in Nashville on Tuesday.
–Field Level Media
