Mauricio Pochettino and the United States seek to end a two-match losing streak when they host Turkey in an international friendly in Hartford this afternoon.
A warm-up match ahead of next weekend’s Gold Cup provides Pochettino a chance to tinker with his lineup, which is missing many familiar names, including Christian Pulisic. Turkey will utilize the friendlies against the USA and Mexico to prepare for their World Cup qualification in September.
My USA vs. Turkey predictions and free betting picks explain why the visitors should find the back of the net multiple times on Saturday, June 7.
USA vs Turkey picks and predictions
My USA vs Turkey best bet: Turkey moneyline (+210 at bet365)
While many American soccer fans know that Christian Pulisic is missing from the squad this summer, he’s not alone. The litany of important players who will be on the sidelines includes the likes of Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, and Sergino Dest.
In fact, you could argue that the USMNT will be without seven likely ideal starters for next year’s World Cup. That includes both starting wingers in Pulisic and Timothy Weah, and both fullbacks with Robinson and Dest out.
Throw in the fact that Musah and McKennie are gone from the midfield trio, and you have a squad that is devoid of nearly every top-flight dangerous weapon and missing much of its spine. Given the opposition on Saturday, it’ll be difficult for the Yanks to get a result.
That’s because Turkey is coming with plenty of firepower. The likes of Arda Guler, Kenan Yildiz, and Baris Yilmaz lead an attack that scored three goals in each of their matches against Hungary back in March.
Those two outings gave them a 6-1 aggregate win over the Hungarians and more importantly, kept them in League A of the UEFA Nations League. It also reflected the dangerous attack the Turks showed during last summer’s Euros.
With Guler pulling the strings at the 10 and Yildiz causing problems out wide with his pace, it’s going to put a lot of pressure on the Americans defensively. Add in a squad that will not have a ton of experience playing together, minus the in-form Pulisic, and you have little reason to think the USMNT will look that improved from the squad we saw lose twice in March.
Many books have seen Turkey bet down to +185 or lower, but bet365 still has them to win on the 3-way line at odds of +210. Given the circumstances and the fact that bet365 pays out money line wagers if a team goes up by two goals at any point, there’s little debate over the best bet for this match.
USA vs Turkey same-game parlay (SGP)
Turkey moneyline
Turkey team total Over 1.5 goals
Kenan Yildiz to score
Not only will Turkey win the match, but I expect they’ll put up multiple goals. The USMNT fullbacks are going to be in for a real test, and Guler will be the best player on the pitch in a position where he can set them free on the counter. And that’s before we remember that there’s not a single goalkeeper whom American fans can trust at the moment.
Yildiz is a promising young talent at just 20 years of age, and he finished the season strong with Juventus. He had a goal and two assists over his final two matches, and he scored goals in three of his final six starts. Whoever starts at right back for the USMNT will be absolutely overmatched, making him a strong candidate to find the back of the net.
USA vs Turkey odds
USA vs Turkey live odds
| USA | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| +130 | Moneyline | +190 |
| +220 | Draw | +220 |
| Over 2.5 (-116) | Total | Under 2.5 (-120) |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel.
USA vs Turkey opening odds
- Moneyline: USA +130 | Turkey +190
- Draw: +220
- Over/Under: Over 2.5 (-116) | Under 2.5 (-120)
How to watch USA vs Turkey
| Location | Pratt & Whitney Stadium, East Hartford, CT |
| Date | Saturday, 6-7-2025 |
| Time | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | TNT |
| Weather | 84F, 0% PoP, winds 1-4 mph. |
USA vs Turkey key injuries
USA: Christian Pulisic F (Out), Timothy Weah F (Out), Zack Steffen GK (Out), Antonee Robinson D (Out), Folarin Balogun F (Out), Weston McKennie M (Out), Yunus Musah M (Out).
Turkey: Metehan Baltaci D (Out).
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
