FAYETTEVILLE, GEORGIA - MAY 28: Weston McKennie of the United States looks for the pass at Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center on May 28, 2026 in Fayetteville, Georgia. (Photo by John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images)
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The United States 2026 World Cup squad will play its first of two preparatory friendlies on Sunday against Sengal in Charlotte, N.C. Here’s everything you should know about the fixture, including how to watch and whom USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino is likely to feature in his starting XI.
3:30 pm ET | Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
TBS, HBO Max (English) | Universo, Peacock (Spanish)
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United States manager Mauricio Pochettino has clearly held a higher tolerance for experimentation during his tenure than some fans would prefer. However, now that the final 26-man squad is together, you’d expect to see something close to his ideal starting XI in these to friendlies. Unlike other international windows, recovery between games should not be a problem, since the two friendlies come six days apart, with another six before opening the tournament against Paraguay on June 12.
The exception is center back Chris Richards, who made the bench in Crystal Palace’s victory in the UEFA Europa Conference League final on Wednesday night but did not play as he deals with what appears to be an ankle sprain. He’s expected to be ready to go in time for the tournament, but will be given a few extra day to recover.
Even were Richards available, the smart money would be on Pochettino’s group playing a 3-4-3. Without their best center back on the pitch, that feels like a virtual certainty.
Matt Freese (GK) - Auston Trusty, Tim Ream, Mark McKenzie - Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Sergino Dest - Tim Weah, Folarin Balogun, Christian Pulisic.
Arguably the most talented side in Africa, Senegal cruised through a qualifying group that also included DR Congo, which qualified for its first World Cup via the intercontinental playoff pathway.
All the focus may be on whether captain Kalidou Koulibaly can get healthy in time after injuries kept him out of the close of Al-Hilal’s season. But don’t let that obscure an exceptional roster that includes Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye and Villareal midfielder Pape Gueye.
Édouard Mendy (GK) - El Hadji Malick Diouf, Moussa Niakhaté, Mamadou Sarr, Antoine Mendy - Idrissa Gana Gueye - Sadio Mané, Pape Gueye, Lamine Camara, Iliman Ndiaye - Nickolas Jackson
With a short roster in holding midfield and a deep one on the flanks, the best guess is Pochettino is trying to build a squad that fits well within his tactical comfort zone of attacking transitions.
And while we may see less lineup experimentation, don’t count on tactical conservatism -.
That could make this a bit of a track meet against an opponent that can more than match the Americans for pace and quality. And with the stakes still low, it’s one that suggests plenty of goals.
The U.S. is the home team, but Senegal is the better one. They take a narrow victory in an entertaining contest.
USMNT 2, Senegal 3
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