THE countdown to the 2026 World Cup continued for the US men's national team on Saturday in a 2-1 loss to Turkiye in a friendly in East Hartford, Conn.

Jack McGlynn scored 59 seconds into the match before Arda Guler in the 24th minute and Kerem Akturkoglu in the 27th gave Turkiye the lead.

With the World Cup beginning in one year and four days, coach Mauricio Pochettino, on the job since September, assembled out of necessity a makeshift 26-man roster which includes six newcomers and 12 players with five or fewer appearance.

This is the group that will compete in the CONCACAF Gold Cup beginning June 15, the last competitive tournament for the US until the World Cup.

The US was without mainstays Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Gio Reyna because of the upcoming Club World Cup; Christian Pulisic is resting while Antonee Robinson, Folarin Balogun and Sergino Dest are among those regulars who are injured.

Goalkeeper Matt Freese of New York City FC and Orlando City defender Alex Freeman started in the US debuts and Philadelphia Union teammates Nathan Harriel and Quinn Sullivan made their first appearances in the 65th minute.