CHICAGO — The U.S. Men's National Team faced Germany in its final friendly before the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Saturday at Soldier Field.
The match, billed as the Coca-Cola Send-Off Match, drew a sold-out crowd as the USMNT prepared for its home World Cup opener against Paraguay on June 12. Germany, the four-time world champions ranked 10th by FIFA, used the game as its last tune-up ahead of the tournament.
U.S. Soccer officials said the encounter provided valuable experience against top competition. The USMNT came into the game off a 3-2 victory over Senegal the previous weekend. Germany entered with strong recent form.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino selected a starting lineup featuring key players including Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams. Germany, under coach Julian Nagelsmann, fielded stars such as Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz and Joshua Kimmich.
The teams have met 13 times historically, with the U.S. holding a 4-8-0 record against Germany. Their most recent prior encounter was a 3-1 German win in 2023.
Pochettino emphasized the importance of the match for squad preparation. "This is about getting ready for the World Cup," he said in comments ahead of the game, according to U.S. Soccer reports.
The friendly was broadcast on TBS in English and Telemundo/Univiso in Spanish, with streaming options including HBO Max and Peacock.
Soldier Field in Chicago hosted the high-profile send-off, marking a significant moment for the co-host nation as it builds momentum for the tournament starting in days. Details on the final score and individual performances were reported live but remained subject to official confirmation from U.S. Soccer and FIFA sources immediately after the match.
Both teams are expected to finalize their World Cup rosters following the friendly, with player availability and form from this game factored into final selections. No further friendlies are scheduled before the tournament begins.
