The U.S. men's national team has lined up a parade of top European opponents as warm-up opponents for the first game of the 2026 championship. World Championship.
The United States Soccer Federation announced Tuesday that the national team will play Belgium and Portugal in FIFA's March window, with both matches taking place at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on March 28 and 31, respectively. These matches will be followed by two friendlies in the window immediately preceding the World Cup, with the second taking place against Germany in Chicago on June 6. The first game of the pre-World Cup series will be against an opponent to be determined in Charlotte, North Carolina on May 31. Many reports indicate that the opponent will be announced after the World Cup draw. (FIFA rules prohibit group opponents from playing each other in pre-tournament friendlies.)
The US games against Belgium and Portugal will be the team's last chance to impress the head coach. Mauricio Pochettino and the personnel before the final composition for the World Cup is named before the subsequent training camp. Location is also important: US Soccer recently moved its headquarters to Atlanta, and a new national training center is already under construction in the city's suburbs.
In Belgium and Portugal, the United States will face two opponents ranked in the top 10 of the FIFA world rankings, as well as two opponents they faced at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The USA faced Portugal in the group stage in Manaus, where Sebastian Varela scored a last-gasp equalizer after Clint Dempsey had given the USA a 2–1 lead. The Americans' World Cup victory was interrupted by Belgium in the round of 16 when Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku scored in extra time behind legendary U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard making 16 saves.
Today, Belgium and Portugal are still among the European elite. Belgium won their World Cup qualifying group and are still led by De Bruyne along with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Portugal's visit, meanwhile, will be notable mainly for the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, who has not played in the United States since he was accused of sexual assault in Las Vegas in 2017 (which Ronaldo has consistently denied). The allegations set off a years-long legal battle that culminated in a lawsuit being dismissed by a judge in 2022 and an appeal rejected in 2023.
The June match at Soldier Field in Chicago will return the U.S. to the federation's pre-Atlanta hometown. Germany, their opponent, will compete in the 21st World Cup match in the summer of 2026, and were also the USA's group opponent in the 2014 World Cup. The Germans beat the USA 1-0 in rainy conditions in Recife.
All of the above countries will be in Pot 1 of the World Cup draw this Friday, meaning they won't have the United States as their group opponent. Potential U.S. opposition in Charlotte may nonetheless be a potential adversary, so a draw must be made before an agreement can be finalized.
“This is a great opportunity for us to challenge the best teams in the world. These are incredible matches for the players and fans,” USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino said. “We are so happy to be playing in our new home of Atlanta and of course competing in the great cities of Charlotte and Chicago leading up to the World Cup.”
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The World Cup draw will take place on December 5 in Washington.
