Kai Havertz and Leroy Sane powered Germany to a 2-1 win over World Cup co-hosts the United States in Chicago on Saturday, in both teams’ final warm-up game before the tournament kicks off next week. Despite the loss it was a promising performance for the US, who created a flurry of chances including a remarkable […]
men’s national team
Posted inSoccer America Confidential
Ahead of the USA-Germany showdown in Chicago, the Berhalters recall life in Munich
The USA’s final practice before its final World Cup warmup game — against Germany on Saturday at Soldier Field — took place at the Chicago Fire’s training facility. The Fire is coached by Gregg Berhalter, who coached the USA at the 2022 World Cup and was replaced by Mauricio Pochettino in 2024. Berhalter was there […]
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The Marcelo Balboa interview
The most celebrated moment in Marcelo Balboa’s legendary U.S. national team career was a misfire, an audacious bicycle kick that sailed just wide of the left post in the Yanks’ Rose Bowl upset of Colombia the first time the World Cup traveled to our shores. It led, thanks to Philip Anschutz’s enthusiasm for it, to […]
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Pochettino frustrated by injured Richards’ World Cup status
Coach Mauricio Pochettino on Friday said injured defender Chris Richards will not play in the United States’ friendly against Germany and expressed frustration that the player’s status in the World Cup squad remains in doubt. Crystal Palace center-back Richards has 36 US caps and would likely be Pochettino’s first-choice at the heart of defense alongside […]
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Soccer America Survey: USMNT and World Cup
Soccer America has asked its readers three times how far the USMNT will advance at the 2026 World Cup? The first two times were after the 2025 Concacaf Nations League final four and after the 2025 Gold Cup. The most recent survey took place following the USMNT World Cup roster announcement. • The percentage of […]
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Germany’s rising stars include U.S. dual national Nathaniel Brown
Germany, the USA’s opponent on Saturday in Chicago, has undergone a more extensive personnel overhaul than the USMNT since the teams last met in October 2023. The friendly in East Hartford, Connecticut, marked the debut of current German coach Julian Nagelsmann, while Gregg Berhalter was still on the U.S. sideline. Every U.S. starter from that […]
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A wave of documentaries tackle American soccer
Decades ago, the NFL made a remarkable discovery — marketing through myth-making and story-telling. The NFL Films unit changed the way pro football was viewed. Passes sailed through the air in slow motion before arriving at their targets with a backdrop of thrilling orchestral music that was far more engaging than what passed for “classical” […]
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Germany: The USA’s final tune-up foe helped shape the USMNT World Cup squad
The USA’s final pre-World Cup test comes on Saturday against Germany, the nation that helped nurture much of Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.
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Freese or Turner? Let’s hope Pochettino knows which goalkeeper to bank on
American soccer’s most famous goalkeeper controversy — picking a No. 1 between Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel — was a spoiled-for-choice situation. Coach Mauricio Pochettino choosing between Matt Turner and Matt Freese — that’s a no-perfect-option dilemma. And here we are, 10 days until the USA’s 2026 World Cup opener not knowing who’ll be the […]
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USMNT answers Poch’s call
One thing that was evident about the USMNT’s performance against Senegal in Sunday’s 3-2 win was the aggressiveness of the players.