The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is now at its final stage, and the USMNT will test itself in a friendly at Soldier Field in Chicago on June 6, 2026, against four-time World Cup winners Germany. The historic grass of Soldier Field will be more than just a venue for a friendly match as the team is on the cusp of history.
The USMNT’s match against Germany on June 6 at Soldier Field will be more than a friendly match, as it will serve as the last match for the USMNT before the World Cup and the final match for the team to gather data on the remaining roster spots to finalize their 26-man roster on June 2. For players such as Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie, this match will be a way to get back into shape for the long tournament ahead. Three roster spots remain up for grabs, and the USMNT’s match against Germany will be a final audition for three positions on the team. Here are the three roster battles that will be won or lost in Chicago.
The Right-Back Contingency: Scally vs. The Unknown
Dest, who suffered a knee injury recently, returned to training with PSV, and although he is not yet “tournament fit.” Therefore, Pochettino is on the lookout for a reliable Plan B. Scally is the obvious candidate; however, his performances against highly skilled wingers will be put to the test. The Borussia Mönchengladbach right back may be replaced by Alex Freeman, who recently joined Villarreal. Scally’s displays in friendly matches at home will decide his fate as right back for the USMNT’s World Cup opener on June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
USMNT right-back Sergiño Dest returned to the training field this week, yet is nowhere near ‘tourney ready’; thus, manager Pochettino needs a back-up plan, here in the form of a ‘right-back contingency’ in the form of Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Joe Scally, or Alex Freeman, who has impressed of late in pre-season training with new club Villarreal. The latter has increased his stock, of late, and the former USMNT youth international is set to have his greatest test to date, as the USMNT looks to get the better of Germany’s mercurial wingers. If Scally fails to come off best on the right side of the field of battle, the likelihood is that the Chicago-born 21-year-old will be superseded by Alex Freeman for the group stage match-up against Paraguay on June 12.
The Creative Engine: The Gio Reyna Conundrum
Perhaps no player represents a bigger “high-risk, high-reward” scenario than Gio Reyna. Despite his undeniable talent, Reyna’s season at Borussia Dortmund was marred by limited minutes and questions surrounding his defensive work rate in Pochettino’s high-intensity system.
With Johnny Cardoso sidelined with an injury, Pochettino is searching for balance in his “MMA”-styled midfield, with the three established holding midfielders in McKennie, Musah, and Adams. With this lineup, Pochettino has experimented with a number 10 position behind the striker, typically with Reyna in this role in training. However, if he were to start against Germany, he would need to show that he is more than just a one-trick pony and press for 70 minutes to maximize his impact on the game. If he is unable to bring this level of intensity, look for Pochettino to turn to a more industrious option, in the form of 22-year-old USMNT rookie Tanner Tessmann.
The Backup Strike Force: Pepi or Wright?
The U.S. has an embarrassment of riches up front, and Pochettino can call upon a plethora of options to serve as the back-up front, to provide the same sort of punch as Balogun.
Ricardo Pepi (PSV): The “Pepi-Plane” has been scorching hot this season with 17 goals. A classic target man, Pochettino could look to Pepi for late-game heroics.
Haji Wright (Coventry City): As a tall and physically gifted forward, Wright would bring a different dimension to the USMNT’s attacking play. He can use his speed and power to get down the sides of the field, and then use his height in the box to battle for headers in the box. This would be an interesting alternative to Pepi in terms of bringing a different type of striker to the table.
Against a very organized backline in Germany, holding up the ball against the backline will be a major test for both candidates. The better that they hold up the ball and the better that they can bring their wingers into the game, will be the major factor in Pochettino’s decision on who to bring off the bench first in big moments of the game to try and score a goal to win the game in the 80th minute of a match.
Match Information & Logistics
The U.S. has a record of 4-8-0 against Germany. The final encounter was in October 2023 in Hartford, a 3-1 German win. This time, the U.S. is hoping to gain momentum before moving west at Soldier Field, Chicago, IL, on June 6, 2026. Telestreaming at 7.30 p.m. ET on Max, TNT, Telemundo, and Peacock for Spanish.
The Stakes
Pochettino will use the last match before his 26-man roster is frozen for the World Cup to sort out the last bits of his lineup and get his Bubble Midfielders off of the team’s money. Players like Aidan Morris and Sebastian Berhalter will be looking to get in as many minutes as possible in order to prove to the coach that they should be on the plane to Los Angeles with the rest of the team. In a home World Cup, it would be a huge disappointment to Pochettino and to the fans to have to fly across the country and have to play for spots in the starting 11.
The four-year cycle of qualifying is now complete, and after 48 matches, the U.S. National Team will depart for Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 7. The final test for Pochettino and his 26-man roster and the team’s framework will be Germany at Soldier Field on June 6.
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