5 USMNT players to watch in June friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland | OneFootball

This summer’s 2025 Gold Cup will be the last opportunity the USMNT has to play competitive matches before the World Cup. Mauricio Pochettino will be using the tournament to evaluate younger and fringe players hoping to make the World Cup squad. But before the Gold Cup gets started, the USWNT has a pair of June friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland.

Even if they aren’t competitive matches, Turkey and Switzerland figure to be higher quality opponents than any team the U.S. will play in the Gold Cup until at least a potential semifinal. Therefore, these games might be the best chance for players to showcase themselves and for Pochettino to judge how they'll fare against the types of teams the U.S. will face during the World Cup.

With that in mind, here are five players worth watching closely during the June friendlies before the Gold Cup.

Alex Freeman

The hype train has left the station amidst his breakout season with Orlando City. The 20-year-old is even getting interest from clubs in Europe. In the meantime, he looks poised to make his USMNT debut during the upcoming friendlies, giving him a chance to show just how far he’s come and whether he’s ready to take his career to the next level.

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While it’s still safe to pencil in Sergiño Dest as the starting right back, a strong showing from Freeman could earn him playing time during the Gold Cup and put him in the conversation for a spot on the World Cup roster next year.

Tim Ream

Father Time might finally be catching up with Ream. This summer could end up being his last with the national team. He hasn’t exactly been in top form with Charlotte FC in his return to MLS this season, so it could be time for Pochettino to start considering other center backs in his place. Ream is 37 and will be 38 during the World Cup next summer.

With only a few exceptions, center backs at that age don’t typically play in World Cups. The games against Turkey and Switzerland are Ream’s best chance to prove he can still play at this level. If he can’t perform against those teams, there’s no reason to think he’ll be a contributor next summer.

Diego Luna

Last summer, Luna was (mistakenly) left off the under-23 roster for the Olympics. This summer, he’s worked his way to the full national team, and deservedly so given his form with Real Salt Lake. Pochettino is clearly a big fan, even bringing him to the Nations League in March when he recorded an assist in the 2-1 loss to Canada.

With Christian Pulisic and other key players missing from the roster this summer, Pochettino could be looking at Luna as a key part of the attack. Therefore, games against Turkey and Switzerland will be a big test for him. It’s in games like this that we’ll see if Luna is merely a quality MLS player or if he can hold his own at the international level and work his way onto the World Cup roster.

Brenden Aaronson

Once considered a part of the USMNT core, Aaronson has played just 21 minutes for the national team since last October. Despite being a key contributor for Leeds United throughout this past season, helping the club gain promotion back to the Premier League, Aaronson wasn’t part of the squad at the Nations League in March.

The games against Turkey and Switzerland, as well as the Gold Cup, are his chance to regain his spot among the USMNT core and secure a World Cup roster spot. His work ethic and industrious nature, in theory, make Aaronson the type of player who fits into Pochettino’s plans. However, things haven’t played out that way thus far under the new skipper. If Aaronson doesn’t make a strong impression during these two friendlies, he faces an uphill battle to get back into the squad and guarantee a place with the USMNT next summer.

Damion Downs

Downs is a player to watch closely over the next few weeks for a variety of reasons. First, he’s the youngest player on the roster. But with Ricardo Pepi, Folarin Balogun and Josh Sargent all absent, playing time at the striker position is up for grabs, even for a player with no international experience.

The 20-year-old is certainly full of confidence after scoring 10 goals in all competitions for FC Köln this past season, helping the Billy Goats gain promotion back to the Bundesliga. Downs will take that confidence with him into two friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland. If things go well in those games, he could be set up for significant minutes during the Gold Cup, which would cap-tie him to the USMNT after previously playing the Germany under-20 team. In other words, there could be a lot about Downs’ future that gets decided in a few short weeks.