The United States men’s national team opened its final pre‑World Cup friendly with a gritty 3‑2 victory over Senegal, a result that underscored the squad’s growing confidence and chemistry, a performance highlighted by the presence of veteran Sadio Mané on the opposition side.
A Tactical Shift
Coach Mauricio Pochettino used the match to trial a three‑back formation, reshuffling the defensive line and giving opportunities to younger players such as Gio Reyna, Sebastian Berhalter and Sergiño Dest, while veterans like Chris Richards and Tim Ream faced injury setbacks.
The experiment also placed Ricardo Pepi and Folarin Balogun in direct competition for the starting striker role, while Timothy Weah and Haji Wright looked to add depth up front, and the midfield saw Mark McKenzie and Miles Robinson battling for minutes.
Final Test Before the World Cup
The next fixture will see the U.S. face Germany, a marquee opponent that will serve as the ultimate litmus test for Pochettino’s tactics and the squad’s readiness as they fine‑tune their approach ahead of the 2026 tournament, a match that will also give fans a final glimpse of the roster that may feature players such as Sergiño Dest, Timothy Weah and Chris Brady.