The U.S. men’s national team’s 2026 schedule is reportedly taking shape.
Portugal, Belgium, and Germany are among the USMNT’s four pre-FIFA World Cup opponents, The Athletic reported Wednesday. The opponent for a fourth match, which will take place in late May has not yet been determined, according to the report.
Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host the pair of March friendlies against Portugal and Belgium, who both sealed their World Cup berths during the past international window.
There will also be a multi-city, pre-World Cup camp in late May and early June, which will conclude with a sendoff match against Germany at Chicago’s Soldier Field. May’s friendly will take place on the East Coast, with Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium being studied as a possible host site.
U.S. Soccer’s new National Training Center in Fayetteville, Georgia will serve as the USMNT’s home base from May 27-June 5. May and June’s friendlies will feature Mauricio Pochettino’s final roster for the World Cup.
Pochettino and his player pool will learn their World Cup group stage opponents on December 5 when the FIFA Draw takes place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
The USMNT recently concluded 2025 with a pair of home friendly wins over Paraguay and Uruguay. Following the victories, the USMNT were bumped up to No. 14 in the latest FIFA Rankings.
if we are truly in the “no one is safe” business, then you call more players than you need in may, and have a cut. i keep getting pointed to budgets or player release rules, but a key way to enforce effort and performance (friendlies or tournaments) is a roster to survive and a lineup to compete for.
related point, i think a tough immediate pre-tournament schedule (as opposed to earlier parts of the cycle) is justifiable as you need to test whether the team and its components are ready for next summer. however, if you are sincere, (a) people who flunk the test need to get cut or have their roles shrunk and (b) you need other options who can step into their shoes if they are exposed. to me a big problem in recent years is we could have a miserable tournament and little changes after. or the scapegoat is a bench player whose fault that window wasn’t, that the coach seemed after already.
put differently, let the games tell you who belongs. quit trying to force an outcome. this goes much better if you (duh) reward performers and demote suckage.
as i said other thread, i am sure marginal players would prefer a chance to show their abilities before a cut, over a ruthless paperwork decision they have no chance to influence. and it would sting the same or less if you were in camp. eg landon went out on his feet, not dropped on a precamp roster. for that matter, being in that final camp is usually seen as an honor relative to the kids who don’t get called or in the pool but not even in camp.
last, we have a history of injuries and indiscipline. including a couple players who can barely stay healthy. and a guy nearly sent home last time. you bring extras for that alone.
It’s not a paper decision look at the list of capped players. They’ve been in camps together. I agree GKs might have a beef but the field players have had chances. They’ve got one more chance in March.
“let the games tell you who belongs. quit trying to force an outcome. this goes much better if you (duh) reward performers and demote suckage.”
That might be true if you had the job not Pochettino. He has a different style from you. And so far, he seems to have figured out how to get the most out of this player pool.
“i am sure marginal players would prefer a chance to show their abilities before a cut, over a ruthless paperwork decision they have no chance to influence. ”
“paperwork” decision? Nonsense.
How do you know that Pochettino and his staff have not been keeping an eye on every single player’s every game, club or USMNT? For example , I did not realize he had kept an eye on Roldan. I sure did not and I bet you did not either. But Roldan’s chances are legit. If he makes it or not it won’t be a “paperwork” decision.
“put differently, let the games tell you who belongs. quit trying to force an outcome”
More hot air. Pulisic, Richards and Malik did not play these last two games. Allegedly, two of the best games the USMNT has ever played.
Do they not belong in the World Cup?
Should the starting lineup for Uruguay all be guaranteed a place in the WC?
If you play well for the USMNT in an important game all it tells you is you did a good job once. Does that mean you are better than everyone else who might play the position? No it does not. It just means that the manager has more options the next time.
What Pochettino seems to have shown in these last few games is that he has a luxury almost no USMNT manager has had before him ; actual depth in a number of positions.
And he will need that .
History tells us that in the upcoming months there will be injuries, failure to recover from injuries, and loss of form.
If the March friendlies show anything, it might show who is left standing.
i don’t understand why you train and do friendlies in the east to play world cup games in LA and seattle.
Because Uncle Arthur built them a new 200 million dollar facility (only 50 was from Arthur Blank) in Atlanta and US Soccer headquarters are in Chicago. With the first group stage on Friday the 12th I imagine we’ll play Germany the 6th, and then head to the west coast. Provides fans who can’t travel all the way to Wash or Cali to still see the team. The whole point of hosting is to grow the game you know.
I cant wait! I know we can beat all three. Go USA!
“…….May and June’s friendlies will feature Mauricio Pochettino’s final roster for the World Cup.” Mauricio Pochettino’s final roster!!! BBRUUHHH…….
It’s going to be entertaining watching USMNT players during this final stretch. PERFORM OR GET DROPPED……especially from those abroad that thought they were guaranteed to be selected until Poch’s last press conference.
According to Pochettino there is no A-team or B-team or C-team…..there is just the USMNT, so EVERYONE has a fair shot depending on the player’s need, skill, abilities etc.
The upcoming months are going to be interesting
“ I am not the janitor”