The United States opened its final pre‑World Cup tune‑up with a hard‑fought 3‑2 victory over Senegal at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium, a venue that will also host matches during the 2026 tournament.
Sergiño Dest opened the scoring early, and Christian Pulisic doubled the lead before halftime, giving the USMNT a 2‑0 edge that seemed to promise a comfortable win.
A Senegalese Fightback
Sadio Mané, the African star, answered with a brace that levelled the match at 2‑2 by the break, shifting momentum and forcing the Americans to regroup in the second half.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino made a flurry of changes after the interval, bringing on Folarin Balogun among ten halftime substitutions, a move that injected fresh energy and ultimately produced the winning goal.
Balogun’s strike, added to Dest’s earlier effort and Pulisic’s contribution, secured a 3‑2 final scoreline and marked the United States’ first win since a dominant 5‑1 triumph over Uruguay in November.
Looking Ahead
The USMNT now turns its attention to a marquee friendly against Germany at Soldier Field in Chicago, a match that will serve as the last test before the teams co‑host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With the victory in Charlotte still fresh, the Americans hope the momentum will carry them into the tournament, where they will join Canada, Mexico and other nations as joint hosts.