EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — Not for the first time, U.S. men's national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino arrived at a post-match press conference after a loss, this time a 2-1 defeat to Turkiye in the first of two friendlies that will precede the Gold Cup. There was one thing he was relieved about, though.

After suffering shocking defeats to Panama and Canada in back-to-back 2025 Concacaf Nations League matches, the USMNT returned to action in its first of two international friendlies ahead of this summer’s Gold Cup.

On Saturday, the United States Men's National Team lost its third straight match in all competitions under head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Seeking to bounce back from embarrassing defeats to Panama and Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League, Pochettino's team threw away a 1-0 lead against Turkiye to lose 2-1.