Cristiano Ronaldo’s next stop in the United States revealed after a long absence

Portugal has already punched its ticket to the 2026 World Cup in North America. The next step is finalizing its warm up schedule for the March FIFA window. Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates are close to confirming matchups with both the United States and Mexico.

USMNT prepares for a marquee matchup

On Monday, U.S. Soccer and the Portuguese Football Federation signaled that they are nearing an agreement to stage the United States vs. Portugal showdown at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The match would take place before Portugal heads south to face Mexico at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

According to reporting from The Athletic, both federations have already signed off on the friendly. The only task left is making the announcement public. The game was arranged soon after Portugal closed out UEFA qualifying with a 9 1 win over Armenia. Ronaldo missed that match because of a red card he picked up against Ireland, a 2 0 victory.

A timely showcase for North American fans

With a potential World Cup suspension looming for the famed No. 7, Portugal’s March swing through North America offers a rare opportunity. Fans across the United States and Mexico would get the chance to see Ronaldo and the Portuguese national team up close months before the World Cup begins.

Why Ronaldo hasn’t visited the United States since 2014

Cristiano Ronaldo’s appearance in a U.S. friendly would mark his first game on American soil since August 2, 2014, when Real Madrid faced Manchester United in a preseason match. Earlier that same summer, Portugal played Ireland at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

In 2017, the German outlet Der Spiegel published allegations that Ronaldo sexually assaulted model Kathryn Mayorga during a 2009 trip to Las Vegas. Ronaldo denied the claims, yet he has not publicly returned to the United States since the allegations surfaced.

He Ronaldo done so, he could have been detained, questioned of legally required to take part in the case. In 2023, however, the lawsuit was dismissed entirely, leaving him free to return to the U.S.

Ronaldo, Trump and a recent political twist

In a recent interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo praised U.S. President Donald Trump, calling him one of the people who can help change the world. The Athletic also reported that António Costa, the president of the European Council and a native of Portugal, gifted Trump a Portugal jersey with Ronaldo’s No. 7 and signature during a political meeting in Canada.

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