USA vs. Germany Preview
Final test before World Cup kicks off
The final window of preparation for the World Cup could not have gotten off to a much better start for the USMNT. Not only did they win the first of two friendlies, but they got another big crowd and had their best player finally break what was a nearly two-year scoring drought for the national team. Now comes a much tougher test in the final pre-World Cup friendly as they get set to face Germany.
There were 57,741 fans at Bank of American in Charlotte on Sunday to watch the US take down Senegal 3-2. They didn’t have to wait long for the fireworks to start either, as just seven minutes into the game, Ricardo Pepi played a nice ball for Christian Pulisic who placed a perfect cross for Sergino Dest to tap in for a 1-0 US lead. Then, 13 minutes later, Pepi was again the provider for Pulisic with a great ball that Pulisic got onto the end of and tucked home for a 2-0 US lead. That was Pulisic’s first goal in the calendar year 2026 and his first goal for the US since November 2024. But the health of Chris Richards has been a huge concern and his absence was felt against Senegal. The US conceded just before halftime and then again, early in the second half, after a comedy of errors between Miles Robinson and Chris Brady. But the US striker who has been in the best form for club and country since September stepped up to win it as Folarin Balogun made it 3-2 ten minutes after Senegal had equalized.
Sunday’s win was just what the US needed heading into the World Cup. The vibes were high late in the fall on the back of a five-game unbeaten streak, all against teams qualified for the World Cup. Unfortunately, they came crashing back down to Earth in March as they US was trounced 5-2 by Belgium and then thoroughly outclassed by Portugal 2-0. A third straight loss would have sent the expectations for this team at the World Cup into the toilet, but a win has them riding high again. Now, a good showing against Germany is just as crucial as a good showing was against Senegal.
The Germans are on an absolute heater coming into this game against the US. They topped their group during World Cup Qualifying with 15 out of a possible 18 points and are currently riding am eight-game winning streak. During that win streak, they’ve scored at least four goals four times, including their most recent outing against Finland (a 4-0 win in Leipzig on Sunday). The World Cup squad assembled by their manager, 38-year-old Julian Nagelsmann, reads like a who’s who of European club soccer. Players on Die Mannschaft are representing clubs like Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Red Bull Leipzig, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle United, Real Madrid, and Galatasaray. Manuel Neur has been called up but whether he starts, or whether Oliver Baumann gets the nod, remains to be seen as Neur is 40 years old now. The backline has plenty of experience with players like Antonio Rudiger (82 caps), Jonathan Tah (46 caps), David Raum (36 caps), and Nico Schlotterbeck (26 caps). The midfield got some unwelcome news as, on Friday, teenage wunderkind Lennart Karl picked up an injury during training that will force him to miss the World Cup. There are still plenty of quality player in the midfield, however, with the likes of Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, and Florian Wirtz. At forward, the Germans might be just a little bit thin as only Kai Havertz has a lot of experience (21 goals in 21 international appearances). Nick Wolemeade has 4 goals to go with 11 caps, while Maximilian Beier has no goals in his 8 appearances for Germany.
Notes:
1. Coming into the game against Germany, the USMNT has lost eight straight games against European teams and is winless in ten straight. The last US win over a European team was a friendly against Bosnia & Herzegovina in December 2021.
2. US Soccer announced on May 22 that this game against Germany was sold out.
3. Despite making the quarterfinals at every World Cup from 1954 to 2014 (16 straight World Cups), Germany has been eliminated at the group stage from each of their last two World Cups.
When, Where
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
Stadium: Soldier Field
City: Chicago, IL
Time: 1:30pm CT
TV: TBS
All-Time Series
USA trails 4-8-0
Last Meeting
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2023
Stadium: Pratt & Whitney Stadium
City: East Hartford, CT
Attendance: 37,743
Result: USA 1-3 Germany
Current FIFA Ranking
USA: 16
Germany: 10
Next Game
Date: Friday, June 12, 2026
Competition: World Cup
Match-Up: USA vs. Paraguay
Stadium: SoFi Stadium
City: Los Angeles, CA
Time: 8pm CT
TV: FOX
Photo Credit: US Soccer