USMNT set for World Cup friendlies against Portugal, Belgium

The November FIFA international break has ended, spelling the end of international soccer until March 2026.

For the United States, this month’s games were a crucial staging post on the way to next summer’s World Cup and USMNT finished with a resounding 5-1 win over Uruguay. Now Mauricio Pochettino’s team is busily preparing for the final steps before the tournament.

Before the World Cup, the USMNT will play four friendlies: two during the March FIFA window and two in the period leading up to the tournament between late May and early June. According to The Athletic, U.S. Soccer plans to train in Atlanta during the first international break and face Portugal and Belgium, two teams that secured direct qualification this month.

The federation’s intention is to then take the team to a couple of additional cities so Pochettino’s squad can feel the support of local fans. The same report indicates that the United States would play the second friendly of the March window against Germany, with Chicago serving as the venue for the team’s final match before the World Cup.

There are still no clues about the opponent for the first pre-World Cup friendly, although the report states that Charlotte would host that match. After the World Cup draw on December 5, U.S. Soccer will select the penultimate opponent for the USMNT.

Although Mauricio Pochettino could call up extra players for those friendly fixtures, the Argentine coach has made it clear that his preference is to work only with the 26 players who will be included in the final World Cup squad. “I think it’s difficult when you bring more than 26 players and then have to communicate your decision on the last day. If something happens, you call someone else later,” he recently explained.

Ahead of the tournament the USMNT intends to train at the new training center in Fayetteville, Georgia. The complex will be inaugurated in March and the team will conduct a significant portion of its work there in May and June before moving to Charlotte and Chicago. Final preparations will take place in Southern California with USMNT scheduled to make its 2026 World Cup debut at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on June 12.

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