USMNT Fall 2-1 to Germany in Final World Cup Tune-Up

The USMNT's last dress rehearsal before the World Cup ended in defeat. As of June 6, 2026, the United States lost 2-1 to Germany at a sold-out Soldier Field in Chicago — 63,636 in the stands, six days left on the clock before the Group D opener . Antonee Robinson's volley was the highlight. The result was not.

How it happened

Germany struck before anyone had sat down (as of June 6, 2026). Kai Havertz headed in at the far post in the 2nd minute after Tyler Adams conceded a free kick and Joshua Kimmich delivered it . A cold start for a team playing on home soil.

The USMNT steadied (as of June 6, 2026). Pochettino's shape — a 4-2-3-1 with McKennie and Adams sitting, Tillman, Pulisic, and Robinson behind Balogun — settled into a rhythm . Sergino Dest and Antonee Robinson pushed high, causing problems on both flanks .

The equalizer came in the 37th minute. A deflected corner fell to Robinson outside the box. He rifled a volley into the roof of the net . Stunning. The kind of goal you remember at a tournament.

But the lead lasted twelve minutes into the second half. Leroy Sané beat Matt Freese to the far post in the 57th minute, a shot aided by a deflection, with Havertz credited for the assist . Two goals conceded, both involving set-piece or dead-ball situations, both with deflections playing a part. Pochettino will have noted the pattern.

The numbers tell two stories

The USMNT outshot Germany 16-12 and held 53% possession . On the ball, the hosts were competitive. Off it, the vulnerability was familiar. The early free kick and the deflected winner point to a team that can create but can still be hurt by individual moments (as of June 6, 2026).

Tyler Adams addressed it directly after the final whistle. He said the team saw what it wanted to see, that conceding early was difficult, but the character and resilience the squad showed was exactly what was needed — players were performing like it was a World Cup final .

Robinson's fitness scare

Antonee Robinson was substituted off in the 63rd minute after appearing to leave with a cramp . Reports indicate the issue did not look serious . For a left wingback so central to Pochettino's attacking system — 152 NT minutes in the last 12 months, plus 1,796 club minutes at Fulham — any doubt six days before a World Cup opener will keep the medical staff busy. The squad can ill afford to lose the man who scored the goal of the night.

Chris Richards still missing from the XI

Chris Richards was absent from the starting lineup for the second consecutive match . Miles Robinson and Tim Ream partnered in central defense instead. Richards has 597 NT minutes and 4,227 club minutes at Crystal Palace in the last 12 months — by far the most club time of any center back in the squad. Whether his absence is tactical or fitness-related, Pochettino will need to make a decision before June 12.

Pre-tournament form in full

The Germany loss caps a run of 17 matches: 9 wins, 2 draws, 6 losses, 31 goals scored, 27 conceded. The split personality is real. In the last window alone, the USMNT beat Senegal 3-2 but lost to Belgium 2-5 and Portugal 0-2 before this 1-2 defeat to Germany. Back in November, they hammered Uruguay 5-1. In September, they beat Japan 2-0 but lost to South Korea 0-2 (as of June 6, 2026).

The ceiling is there. The floor is, too.

The 26-player squad

Pochettino named the official USMNT roster on May 26, 2026. Here is every player, their club, and their national-team numbers from the last 12 months.

Goalkeepers

• M. Freese — New York City FC — 841 NT min, 10 apps
• M. Turner — New England Revolution — 135 NT min, 2 apps
• C. Brady — Chicago Fire — 49 NT min, 1 app

Defenders

• M. Arfsten — Columbus Crew — 706 NT min, 13 apps, 3 assists (as of June 6, 2026)
• T. Ream — Charlotte — 684 NT min, 9 apps
• A. Freeman — Villarreal — 647 NT min, 10 apps, 2 goals (as of June 6, 2026)
• C. Richards — Crystal Palace — 597 NT min, 8 apps, 1 goal (as of June 6, 2026)
• M. Robinson — FC Cincinnati — 448 NT min, 8 apps
• M. McKenzie — Cercle Brugge — 353 NT min, 6 apps
• A. Robinson — Fulham — 152 NT min, 3 apps, 1 assist (as of June 6, 2026)
• A. Trusty — Celtic — 92 NT min, 2 apps
• J. Scally — Borussia Mönchengladbach — 68 NT min, 3 apps
• S. Dest — PSV Eindhoven — 190 NT min, 4 apps, 1 assist (as of June 6, 2026)

Midfielders

• M. Tillman — Bayer Leverkusen — 769 NT min, 9 apps, 3 goals, 4 assists (as of June 6, 2026)
• S. Berhalter — Vancouver Whitecaps — 433 NT min, 7 apps, 1 goal, 2 assists (as of June 6, 2026)
• T. Adams — Bournemouth — 245 NT min, 5 apps
• C. Roldan — Seattle Sounders — 230 NT min, 6 apps, 2 assists (as of June 6, 2026)
• W. McKennie — Juventus — 162 NT min, 3 apps, 1 goal (as of June 6, 2026)
• G. Reyna — Borussia Mönchengladbach — 105 NT min, 2 apps, 1 goal, 1 assist (as of June 6, 2026)

Forwards

• B. Aaronson — Leeds — 311 NT min, 9 apps, 1 goal, 1 assist (as of June 6, 2026)
• F. Balogun — Monaco — 269 NT min, 6 apps, 2 goals (as of June 6, 2026)
• T. Weah — Marseille — 199 NT min, 3 apps
• C. Pulisic — AC Milan — 169 NT min, 4 apps
• H. Wright — Coventry City — 166 NT min, 4 apps, 3 goals (as of June 6, 2026)
• R. Pepi — PSV Eindhoven — 64 NT min, 2 apps, 2 assists (as of June 6, 2026)
• A. Zendejas — Club America — 47 NT min, 2 apps

Group D schedule

• June 12 — USA vs Paraguay — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
• June 19 — USA vs Australia — Lumen Field, Seattle
• June 25 — Turkey vs USA — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood

Also in Group D: Australia vs Turkey on June 13 at BC Place, Vancouver. Turkey vs Paraguay on June 19 at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara. Paraguay vs Australia on June 25 at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara.

Following the Germany friendly, the squad flies to Southern California to begin base camp ahead of the Paraguay opener .

What does USMNT's loss to Germany mean for the World Cup?

Not much in the standings. Everything in terms of confidence calibration. The hosts showed they can trade punches with a top-10 side, create chances in volume, and produce moments of genuine quality. They also showed they can concede early from a set piece and get beaten by a deflection. Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey will have watched.

The talent is real. Balogun has 19 club goals at Monaco in the last 12 months. Pulisic has 12 at Milan. McKennie has logged 4,154 club minutes at Juventus. Wright has 18 goals at Coventry. Pepi has 19 at PSV. This is a deep, Europe-tested squad (as of June 6, 2026).

But depth only matters if the defense holds. That is the question Pochettino has six days to answer.

When does the USMNT play their first World Cup 2026 match?

The USMNT open Group D on June 12, 2026, against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. Their second match is June 19 against Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle, and their final group game is June 25 against Turkey, back at SoFi Stadium.

Who scored for the USMNT against Germany?

Antonee Robinson equalized with a volley from outside the box in the 37th minute, rifling a deflected corner kick into the roof of the net . Kai Havertz and Leroy Sané scored for Germany.

How many players are in the USMNT World Cup 2026 squad?

Pochettino named 26 players on May 26, 2026. The roster spans three goalkeepers, ten defenders, six midfielders, and seven forwards, with players drawn from clubs across the United States, England, Germany, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Scotland, Belgium, and Mexico.

What is the USMNT's recent form heading into the World Cup?

Across 17 recent matches, the USMNT have won 9, drawn 2, and lost 6, scoring 31 goals and conceding 27. Headline results include a 5-1 win over Uruguay and a 2-0 win over Japan, but also a 2-5 loss to Belgium and an 0-2 loss to Portugal. The form line is inconsistent — capable of brilliance, vulnerable to lapses (as of June 6, 2026).

Why was Chris Richards not in the starting lineup against Germany?

Richards was absent from the starting XI for the second consecutive match . Miles Robinson and Tim Ream started as the center-back pair instead. Richards has 4,227 club minutes at Crystal Palace in the last 12 months — the most of any center back in the squad — making his omission one of the key tactical questions heading into the tournament.