USMNT Road to the 2026 World Cup: Preparations, Friendlies, and Final Squad Selection
The recent November FIFA international break has come to a close, marking the end of international soccer until March 2026. The US Men's National Team (USMNT) wrapped up the month with an impressive 5-1 victory over Uruguay, a crucial step in their journey towards the upcoming World Cup. Coach Mauricio Pochettino and his team are now focused on final preparations before the tournament.
Leading up to the World Cup, the USMNT is scheduled to play four friendly matches. Two of these friendlies will take place during the March FIFA window, while the remaining two will be held in late May and early June. The team is set to train in Atlanta during the first international break and will face Portugal and Belgium, both teams that have secured direct qualification for the World Cup.
Following the initial friendlies, the USMNT plans to visit a few more cities to engage with local fans and build support. The team is expected to play their second friendly in March against Germany, with Chicago hosting the final match before the World Cup. The opponent for the first pre-World Cup friendly in Charlotte is yet to be announced, with U.S. Soccer set to reveal the penultimate opponent after the World Cup draw on December 5.
Coach Pochettino has expressed his preference to work with a squad of 26 players for the final World Cup squad, rather than calling up additional players for the friendly fixtures. The team aims to train at the new training center in Fayetteville, Georgia, which will be inaugurated in March. The USMNT will conduct a significant portion of their preparations at the center in May and June before moving to Charlotte and Chicago for final training sessions. The team is scheduled to make their 2026 World Cup debut at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on June 12.
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