Turkey Set to Face USA in Crucial Friendly Ahead of 2026 Qualifiers
As Turkey prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers starting in September, the national team will face the United States in a high-profile friendly on Saturday, June 7. The match serves as a key test for both squads ahead of their qualification campaigns.
Kickoff is set for 22:30 (GMT+3) / 15:30 (GMT-5) at Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, Connecticut. Fernando Moron of Panama will officiate, with Andres Vargas and Alejandro Camarena as assistants. Randy Encarnacion of the Dominican Republic will act as the fourth official.
Injuries Hit Turkey Squad Before US Clash
Injuries have forced several key absences from the Turkey squad. Captain Hakan Calhanoglu, Ugurcan Cakir, Mustafa Hekimoglu, and Salih Ozcan are out. Ahmed Kutucu joins the squad as a late replacement.
Turkey squad vs USA:
Goalkeepers:
Altay Bayindir, Berke Ozer, Muhammed Sengezer
Defenders:
Caglar Soyuncu, Eren Elmali, Merih Demiral, Mert Muldur, Mustafa Eskihellac, Samet Akaydin, Yasin Ozcan, Yusuf Akcicek, Zeki Celik
Midfielders:
Demir Ege Tiknaz, Ismail Yuksek, Kaan Ayhan, Okay Yokusu, Orkun Kokcu
Forwards:
Arda Guler, Baris Alper Yilmaz, Can Uzun, Deniz Gul, Irfan Can Kahveci, Kenan Yildiz, Kerem Akturkoglu, Oguz Aydin, Ahmed Kutucu
Turkey will also play Mexico in another friendly on June 11 at 04:00 (GMT+3).
Head-to-Head Record Slightly Favors USA
The Turkey vs USA fixture has occurred four times. The U.S. leads the head-to-head with two wins, while Turkey has one win and one draw.
Previous Matches:
- Sep 4, 1991 – Istanbul – Friendly – 1-1
- Jun 19, 2003 – St. Etienne – Confederations Cup – 2-1 Turkey win
(Goals: Tuncay Sanli, Okan Yilmaz) - May 29, 2010 – Philadelphia – Friendly – 1-2 USA win
- Jun 1, 2014 – New Jersey – Friendly – 1-2 USA win
Turkey’s only official victory came in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, a tightly contested 2-1 match.
High Stakes for Squad Development
This friendly is a major opportunity for head coach Vincenzo Montella to test his tactics, rotate players, and build momentum ahead of the qualifiers. The match also serves as a North American dress rehearsal for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by USA, Mexico, and Canada.
Rising stars like Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz are expected to play key roles, giving fans and analysts a preview of Turkey’s next generation.
