The United States Men's National Team fell 2-1 to Türkiye in East Hartford, Connecticut, on Saturday. It's the USMNT's third straight defeat of 2025, following losses to Panama and Canada in the Nations League finals in March.
If that sounds like bad news for the USMNT, it is; the team would rather not be scrabbling for results on home soil just one year out from hosting the World Cup. But this performance against Türkiye was full of moments that prove the USMNT's future remains bright. With the likes of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Yunus Musah and Antonee Robinson all unavailable, the USMNT B-team put in a spirited performance that looked far more coherent than what the A-team managed a few short months ago.
Games like this one deserve context. While the USMNT obviously wants to win every match it enters, its under-resourced B-team probably should be playing out a closely-run loss against a strong European opponent like Türkiye. Anything better than that would be exceptional; anything worse than that would be inadequate. That means this particular loss isn't a catastrophe for the USMNT: it's simply an extension of the team's status quo. (Whether or not that is a catastrophe in and of itself, however, remains an open question.)
Who stood out during this performance? Who fell short? And who might be working their way into Pochettino's A-team as the World Cup looms? Here are our thoughts on the USMNT's winners and losers against Türkiye:
Winner: Jack McGlynn
McGlynn is a polarizing figure within the USMNT fandom. To his supporters, McGlynn is one of the team's few true line-breaking passers. To his detractors, though, McGlynn is something of a defensive liability: the kind of player who has neither the speed nor the positional awareness to track back and cover for his teammates. If he's not scoring bangers, his detractors reason, he's not doing anything at all.
Well. On Saturday, McGlynn scored one of those trademark jaw-dropping left-footed goals, and he managed to do it just 59 seconds after kickoff. His beautiful curled shot knocked the air clean out of Türkiye's lungs and tilted the opening twenty minutes firmly in the USMNT's favor. McGlynn may never be the all-around midfielder USMNT fans need him to be, but performances like this one show just how world-class he is as a goalscorer.
Loser: Johnny Cardoso
If you asked a first-time soccer viewer which member of this USMNT squad made it to a European final this season, they would've named everyone before settling on Cardoso. What a shame that is.
Cardoso is one of American soccer's finest exports: he had a brilliant season for Real Betis in Spain and is in talks to play alongside Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann at Atletico Madrid. But Cardoso has never, not once, found his footing with the USMNT, and today was no exception. His error in the 24th minute wound up deciding the game in Türkiye's favor.
Winner: Max Arfsten
Arfsten, one of the sleeper hits of the Pochettino era, really grew into this Türkiye game. He started things off in a far more defensive role, man-marking the likes of Real Madrid's Arda Güler, but slowly blossomed into one of the team's strongest attacking threats. His lung-busting runs up the flank created chaos for Türkiye in the second half.
Loser: Nathan Harriel
Harriel, one of several Philadelphia Union academy players in this USMNT lineup, didn't cover himself in glory against Türkiye, but his lack of impact wasn't exactly his fault. The 24-year-old just looked like he needed a few more reps at a high level in order to find his footing. This was his first-ever USMNT cap, and it looked like it.
Winner: Chris Richards
The USMNT has been in desperate need of a defensive leader since...about 2014, when Carlos Bocanegra and Steve Cherundolo finally hung up their boots. While Charlotte's Tim Ream and Nashville's Walker Zimmerman have deputized well in recent seasons, Crystal Palace stalwart Chris Richards blew them both out of the water against Türkiye. He's been full of confidence since winning the FA Cup—if he can keep evolving and improving, he'll be a nailed-on starter for the 2026 World Cup.
The USMNT will return to action on Tuesday, June 10, against Switzerland in Nashville, Tennessee.
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Green Bay Packers right tackle Anthony Belton had a forgettable first half against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday when he committed five penalties in the first half. The rookie was called for a false start, two illegal formation penalties, a face mask and unnecessary roughness. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was peeved by the unnecessary roughness penalty, which the second-round pick was called for when he pushed Colts cornerback Johnathan Edwards from behind after the play. Per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, LaFleur "let Belton have it" at halftime. Following the game, LaFleur explained to the media why that behavior bothers him — it hurts the team. “That’s the one that really bothers me because that is — I mean, they all bother me — but you can’t be getting personal fouls because that really hurts the team, puts you in a really tough position,” LaFleur said. “That is completely unacceptable in my mind. I appreciate the effort that he plays with and I thought he did a really nice job … I love the effort. It’s just, you got to be smart in those situations.” Belton's penalties were costly for the Packers. One of the illegal formation flags took away what would have been a touchdown pass from quarterback Taylor Elgersma to tight end Ben Sims. The 15-yard penalty on the unnecessary roughness call turned a manageable 3rd-and-5 into a 3rd-and-20. Saturday's preseason game is a learning experience for the 2023 third-team All-ACC offensive lineman. The Packers can't have Belton on the field if he's going to commit that many penalties, and the unnecessary roughness mistake would have been easy to avoid.
Speculation swirled this week about a possible blockbuster trade between the Montreal Canadiens and Anaheim Ducks, but TSN/Forbes legal analyst Eric Macramalla was quick to pour cold water on the idea. The proposed deal centered around swapping top prospects: Montreal defenseman David Reinbacher and Anaheim forward Mason McTavish. On the surface, the trade has appeal. Reinbacher, a right-shot blueliner with legitimate top-pairing potential, would give the Ducks the kind of defensive cornerstone they’ve been searching for. Meanwhile, McTavish could provide the Canadiens with a much-needed second-line center behind Nick Suzuki, filling a hole that’s lingered for several seasons. But as Macramalla pointed out, the trade simply doesn’t add up for Montreal. Moving Reinbacher would leave the Canadiens dangerously thin on the right side of their defense, an area that already lacks long-term depth. While McTavish would be a strong addition, sacrificing a potential top-pairing defenseman is a price too steep for GM Kent Hughes to consider at this stage of the rebuild. Ultimately, while the concept may generate fan debate, Macramalla stressed that the Canadiens aren’t in a position to weaken their blue line just to address their center depth. For now, the deal “won’t work.” Fan Feedback: A Split Reaction Canadiens fans were quick to weigh in on the trade chatter, with opinions ranging from firm rejection to cautious interest. Some backed Macramalla’s stance, with one fan suggesting Montreal could use “other assets the Ducks would like” and another noting the Habs’ young defense core “will be a strength of the team for the next decade.” The Curfew Boys Podcast called it “1 step forward, 2 steps back.” Others saw more merit. One account argued he’d, “Do it one for one,” calling McTavish “more established at this point.” Another echoed that sentiment: “McT is a proven player, make the trade!!” Skeptics highlighted Reinbacher’s lack of NHL experience, and others questioned his durability. Meanwhile, Gord of Thunder took a playful shot at the concept, invoking The Princess Bride: “You never trade a defenseman with top pairing ability for a second line player — it’s inconceivable.” Even creative alternatives emerged, with one fan proposing a three-way deal involving Calgary. The verdict? While many fans respect McTavish’s value, most agree that giving up Reinbacher would leave the Canadiens with a hole too big to fill.
The Ottawa Senators’ long-awaited push to move downtown has revived more than just arena talk—it has also sparked speculation about the future of captain Brady Tkachuk. On episode 400 of the DFO Rundown podcast, NHL analyst Jason Gregor suggested that the timeline for the Senators’ new home at LeBreton Flats may not line up with Tkachuk’s contract, potentially influencing whether he stays in Ottawa. Tkachuk’s deal, an eight-year, $57.56 million pact signed in 2021, runs through 2028. By then, the Senators’ proposed arena—still facing construction and approval hurdles—might only just be opening. According to reports from the Ottawa Citizen, the building is expected to take at least two years to complete once the land is ready. That mismatch in timing could prove crucial. “Is that building done in three years? Probably not,” Gregor said. “So I’m going to actually sell [on him staying]. By the time that building is done, he’ll have moved on. I get a sense that he might be going to the USA.” Which Team Would Brady Tkachuk Join? It’s key to point out that Brady has never said he has intentions on leaving Ottawa. He’s excited about the upcoming season and working with the team to get better and become a legitimate playoff contender. His contract also includes a full no-move clause. It’s the control over any trade scenario he has that makes this interesting. In the past, he’s been loosely linked to the New York Rangers. In December, “The Post’s Larry Brooks reports the Blueshirts have been in trade talks with multiple teams — with Senators forward Brady Tkachuk their primary target.” The article added, “The 25-year-old Ottawa captain would bring a jolt to the lifeless Rangers lineup and in multiple ways.” Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen later ruled out there being any truth to the speculation. Of course, there is also the Florida Panthers, where Brady’s brother Matthew plays. Matthew loves Florida and is signed until 2030. Could bringing in the younger brother be one of the things that gets both players to sign team-friendly deals and extensions? The Senators have made it clear that Tkachuk remains central to their long-term plans, but without a finished arena to market as a franchise reset, Gregor wonders if Ottawa could face a challenge convincing its captain to stick around for the next chapter.
The Dolphins May Have a Jaylen Wright Problem Coming out of the University of Tennessee, Jaylen Wright looked to have all of the tools necessary to be successful in the NFL. Speed, power, hard worker, and athletic. His rookie season didn’t go as planned, though. In April 2024, Miami traded a future 3rd round pick to get a pick in Round 4 to select Wright. He entered the season on the depth chart behind Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane. Quickly, though, Mostert fell out of favor with his fumbling problem and sank on the depth chart. But Wright didn’t get many opportunities. Only 68 carries for 249 rushing yards. Many felt he wasn’t utilized enough; now looking back in hindsight, maybe the Dolphins knew something the fans didn’t. It’s 2025 now, training camp is about 4 weeks old, and Wright has yet to stand out, whether in practices or in preseason games. The reports from the training camp practices indicate that he is a non-factor, not making any plays. In the first preseason game against the Chicago Bears, on the opening series with the starters in, he was stuffed three plays in a row at the goalline and was unable to punch it in the endzone. This past Saturday vs the Lions, he had four carries for three yards and a fumble (which Miami did recover). Needless to say, that’s not good. You don’t want to read too much into preseason games, but that is what we have to judge these players on before the regular season, and the results so far aren’t great. And it’s more than just the stats or the training camp reports. Just watch the two preseason games, and it seems there is just a lack of sizzle, so to speak, when the ball is in Wright’s hands. You don’t see a burst, nor any explosiveness. He looks like a JAG (just a guy). On the flip side, Dolphins rookie running back Ollie Gordon is all sizzle. He is all burst. He has shown explosiveness in his running of the football over the past two preseason games. The polar opposite of Jaylen Wright. And, the constant here is that both running backs are running behind the same poor backup offensive linemen. Butch Barry, the Dolphins’ offensive line coach, along with Mike McDaniel, has played the starters very little, and Miami’s lack of depth on the offensive line isn’t great. So neither back has outstanding blocking in front of them. On paper, Jaylen Wright should be hitting his stride in year two and taking on a larger role in this offense. Especially with the news that De’Von Achane will be sidelined for a few days or weeks with a soft tissue injury of some sort. But it’s not happening, and if anything, Ollie Gordon may be passing him on the depth chart really soon. Again, it’s training camp and the preseason, so you don’t want to read too much into things, but right now, if Jaylen Wright were a stock, you would be selling it. Hopefully, he is able to find his game and turn things around, because he is a great kid and has all of the physical talent you want in a player.