First Send-Off Friendly

USMNT Ready to Test Themselves Against Senegal in World Cup Dress Rehearsal

The countdown to the World Cup is almost over, and Sunday's friendly against Senegal in Charlotte represents the first real opportunity for Mauricio Pochettino's squad to show what this group is capable of ahead of the June 12 opener against Paraguay.

The match at Bank of America Stadium (3:30 p.m. ET, TBS) kicks off just under two weeks before group play begins, giving Pochettino valuable time to sharpen his tactical approach before a second tuneup against Germany in Chicago on June 6. With the roster finalized and the squad settled in at the new national training center outside Atlanta, the focus has shifted entirely toward execution.

The Americans enter the friendly with questions still swirling. A difficult March window that produced losses to Belgium and Portugal raised eyebrows, and the concerns about midfield depth that followed Pochettino's roster decisions remain unresolved on paper. Pochettino has hinted at a more possession-oriented system, saying "if we play with one holding midfielder, it's enough," suggesting Tyler Adams could anchor the middle with more attack-minded players around him.

Adams himself returns to the squad after an injury-disrupted club season, though he finished the year strongly with AFC Bournemouth. The captaincy question also lingers, with Tim Ream the likely choice to wear the armband again, though teammates like Weston McKennie have downplayed the significance. "The captaincy band is honestly just a symbol of who the referee talks to," McKennie said.

Senegal, ranked 14th in the world and two spots ahead of the U.S., offers a genuine challenge. Their ability to control possession and create chances through dangerous wingers like Ismaila Sarr and Sadio Mané will test a defense still awaiting the return of injured center back Chris Richards.

For this generation, the World Cup moment has nearly arrived.

Richards on the Bench for Conference Final

Defender Wins European Trophy, Eyes World Cup Return

Chris Richards capped a dramatic week by collecting a winner's medal as Crystal Palace claimed the UEFA Conference League title on Wednesday, defeating Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in Leipzig, though the American center back watched the entire match from the bench as Palace's medical staff deemed him not yet ready to feature.

The 26-year-old had suffered two torn ligaments in his left ankle during Palace's Premier League draw with Brentford on May 17, sparking immediate concern about his availability for the World Cup. He was subsequently left out of Palace's final league match and was the only member of Pochettino's 26-man squad absent from Tuesday's roster reveal in New York, instead submitting a video message from London.

His appearance on the bench in Leipzig, however, offered an encouraging sign. Palace manager Oliver Glasner had set a clear standard heading into the final, saying neither Richards nor midfielder Adam Wharton would play unless fully fit following late fitness tests. Wharton started, while Richards was held back, but simply being dressed for a European final suggested meaningful progress.

Richards is now expected to link up with the USMNT at the national training center in Georgia later this week. Pochettino, for his part, has remained measured in his assessment. "We don't know. We'll see tomorrow if he plays, and then we will decide," the coach said Tuesday. "We have time before the World Cup to make changes if needed."

That flexibility matters because Richards is widely considered Pochettino's most important defensive piece. He missed the 2022 World Cup with a hamstring injury and has waited years for this opportunity on home soil. With the U.S. opener against Paraguay set for June 12 in Los Angeles, the timeline for a full return remains tight, but very much alive.

Senegal Ready for the U.S.

A Golden Generation's Last World Cup Dance

When the USMNT takes the field Sunday in Charlotte against Senegal, they won't be facing just any warm-up opponent. The Lions of Teranga arrive in North America as one of Africa's most dangerous sides, and one with serious ambitions for this summer's tournament.

Coach Pape Thiaw has made no attempt to hide those aspirations. "If, even for a second, I doubted that I could win the World Cup with Senegal, then I would step aside," he declared earlier this year. Remarkably, the footballing world has largely taken him at his word.

The confidence isn't unfounded. Senegal qualified for the tournament undefeated, topping their CAF group with 24 points after a dominant campaign. Their squad boasts genuine world-class talent, headlined by all-time leading scorer Sadio Mané (51 international goals), defensive stalwart Kalidou Koulibaly, and veteran midfielder Idrissa Gueye, who leads the nation with 122 caps. Observers have called this a "golden generation" for whom the 2026 World Cup represents a now-or-never moment.

Senegal's strength stems from two sources: a network of productive domestic academies that have consistently supplied players to Europe's top leagues, and aggressive diaspora recruitment targeting French-born talent before they commit to other nations. The result is a squad blending experienced veterans with exciting young players like 18-year-old PSG forward Ibrahim Mbaye.

Their World Cup draw, however, is brutal. Placed in Group I alongside France, Norway, and Iraq, they will have their June 16 opener against France at MetLife Stadium as an immediate measuring stick.

Off the pitch, there's been minor turbulence around Thiaw's contract situation, though the Senegalese Football Federation has firmly denied reports of any travel disruptions tied to the issue, calling such suggestions "unfounded rumours."

Sunday's friendly in Charlotte kicks off at Bank of America Stadium.

Pochettino Navigates Rumors

Managers Dealt With Questions About His Next Job During World Cup Prep

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just weeks away, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino finds himself juggling tournament preparations alongside an unwanted off-field distraction: reported interest from AC Milan.

The story broke Thursday morning as the U.S. squad gathered at the newly opened Arthur M. Blank National Training Center outside Atlanta. Reports emerged that Pochettino had met with Milan representatives about their vacant coaching position following the dismissal of Massimiliano Allegri. When asked directly, Pochettino denied personally meeting with Milan officials, but left the door open regarding his representatives. "My representatives? It may be possible because they need to do their job," he said.

Despite the noise, U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson firmly dismissed concerns about distraction. "I'm confident that Mauricio and team are 100 percent focused on this summer," Batson told reporters, noting that Pochettino's staff were among the first to arrive and last to leave the training facility.

Pochettino's contract expires following the tournament, and the Argentine hasn't hidden his desire to eventually return to club soccer in Europe, where he has homes in London and Barcelona. Still, he insists his commitment to the World Cup is ironclad.

On the football side, preparations appear well advanced. Pochettino reportedly had his preferred starting lineup locked in since before March camp. The team will play final tuneups against Senegal on May 31 in Charlotte and Germany on June 6 in Chicago before heading to their California base ahead of the June 12 opener against Paraguay in Los Angeles.

USMNT Release 2026 World Cup Roster

Manager Pochettino Named His 26-Man Roster on Tuesday

Mauricio Pochettino unveiled the United States Men's National Team's 26-player World Cup roster on Tuesday, May 26, during a star-studded event at Pier 17 in New York City, broadcast live on FOX. The team will now head to Atlanta to begin final preparations before two pre-tournament friendlies.

The selections were largely predictable, with 13 players returning from the 2022 Qatar squad, including marquee names like Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams. Pulisic leads the roster with 84 caps, making him the most experienced player on the team.

The forward group drew particular praise. Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright combined for 56 club goals this season, with Balogun scoring 19 for Monaco, Pepi also netting 19 to lead PSV Eindhoven to a Dutch title despite injury, and Wright bagging 18 to help Coventry City earn Premier League promotion.

The roster wasn't without controversy, however. The omission of Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann, who was shut down by his club due to a muscle strain, came as a "big surprise" to the player himself. Rather than replacing him with another midfielder like Aidan Morris, Pochettino instead added defender Joe Scally, a move that left the midfield looking thin on depth.

For the first time since MLS launched in 1996, all three goalkeepers on the roster—Chris Brady, Matt Freese, and Matt Turner—play in the domestic league. Notably, Brady becomes the first uncapped player named to a USMNT World Cup roster since Juergen Sommer in 1994.

The Americans open Group D play against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles.

World Cup Roster Leaked

The Guardian Released the Roster Ahead of the Official Release on Tuesday

Mauricio Pochettino's 26-man World Cup roster leaked ahead of its official Tuesday unveiling in New York City, and the biggest story isn't who made it, it's who didn't. Lyon midfielder Tanner Tessmann, who featured in each of the last six USMNT games, was left off the squad despite being considered a likely starter before suffering a muscle injury. His absence leaves the midfield looking thin, with only four central or defensive midfielders on the squad: Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Sebastian Berhalter, and Cristian Roldan.

On the positive side, Gio Reyna made the team despite not starting a club match since December, a testament to Pochettino's belief in the young attacker's creative ability. Club América winger Alejandro Zendejas was also confirmed on the roster, likely at the expense of Real Salt Lake's Diego Luna.

The defensive corps is notably heavy, with 10 defenders selected to compete for four or five starting spots. The USMNT opens World Cup play on June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Morris Playing for the Premier League

After the Southampton Controversy, Boro Play in the EFL Championship Play-Off Final

Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough are getting an unexpected second shot at Premier League promotion after Southampton's expulsion from the playoffs following a spying scandal, setting up a Championship final showdown with Hull City at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

Middlesbrough originally fell to Southampton 2-1 on aggregate in the semifinals, with Morris logging 90 minutes in the first-leg draw at the Riverside before playing the full 120 minutes in the extra-time second-leg loss at St. Mary's. His 44 appearances this season already represent a career best for the USMNT midfielder.

The road back hasn't been without turbulence. Head coach Kim Hellberg admitted it was "impossible" for his players to train during the chaotic period of uncertainty surrounding Southampton's expulsion, leaving questions about their mental readiness heading into Saturday's showpiece.

Hull, meanwhile, has had over a week to prepare and boast a strong playoff pedigree, having won their previous two Championship playoff finals. They also handed Boro a 1-0 defeat at the Riverside back in December.

Still, the stakes couldn't be higher. The winner joins Coventry City and Ipswich Town in the Premier League next season, with Morris and Middlesbrough hoping to make their unlikely second chance count.

Arfsten Scores in Open Cup

World Cup Hopeful Scored The Winner in the Open Cup Quarterfinal

Max Arfsten delivered the decisive moment Wednesday night as the Columbus Crew defeated New York City FC 1-0 at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field to advance to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Semifinals for the first time since 2010.

In what was a battle between two USMNT teammates, Arfsten got the better of NYCFC goalkeeper Matt Freese in the 59th minute. Assisted by 22-year-old Azerbaijani international Nariman Akhundzada, in his first Open Cup goal contribution for the club, Arfsten found space on the right side, cut inside, and curled a left-footed shot past a diving Freese at the far post.

"I just saw the moment to cut inside, and I saw a little bit of space, and it went in," Arfsten said.

Despite Freese finishing the match with seven saves, Columbus largely dominated proceedings, limiting NYCFC to five shots, none of which found the target. Goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen earned a clean sheet without being forced into a single save.

"Even though we were winning 1-0, we still had the ball, and we're being a bit daring and bold," Arfsten noted.

The Crew will host Orlando City SC in the Semifinals the week of September 16-17.

Richards Injury Update

Defender "Should" Be Ready For The World Cup

US men's national team center back Chris Richards is racing against time ahead of the World Cup after Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed Thursday that he tore two ligaments in his ankle during last weekend's 2-2 draw with Brentford.

Glasner ruled Richards out of Sunday's season finale against Arsenal and called it "50-50" whether he'd be fit for Crystal Palace's UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig next Wednesday. Sources close to the player told The Athletic the final would likely come "a day or two" too soon, though he should be "good" for the World Cup. A source also told the New York Post that Richards is expected to miss just 7-8 days and could still feature in Leipzig.

Adding further optimism, Men in Blazers reported they spoke with Richards' agent, who described the injury as minor and said he shouldn't miss a single minute of the tournament.

The news is a significant relief for coach Mauricio Pochettino, who is days away from naming his World Cup squad. Richards is widely considered the USMNT's most important center back, and the Americans open Group D play against Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, California.

Pepi Scores in Season Finale

Forward and His Compatriot Finish the Eredivisie Season With a Win

Ricardo Pepi rounded off PSV Eindhoven's Eredivisie season with a penalty in an emphatic 5-1 victory over FC Twente on Saturday, while fellow American Sergiño Dest contributed a solid all-around display from left back.

Pepi's goal came in the 84th minute, converting from the spot after substitute Anass Salah-Eddine had won the penalty. It was a fitting end to a dominant afternoon for Peter Bosz's side, who had already put the game to bed well before the American striker added the gloss. Pepi had actually thought he'd scored earlier, putting the ball in the net in the 21st minute, only to be flagged for offside. He won all three of his ground duels and completed both dribble attempts, bringing a physical presence throughout.

The result was a dominant one for PSV, who led 2-1 at half-time thanks to Ryan Flamingo's early header and Noah Fernandez's effort just before the break, with Twente briefly leveling through Sondre Ørjasæter. Dennis Man and Guus Til extended the lead after the restart before Pepi's late penalty sealed it — PSV's 100th goal of the season.

Dest, operating at left back, was busy and effective. He created two chances, including one big chance, made eight recoveries, and completed three of five dribble attempts. He was cautioned with a yellow card, the one blemish on an otherwise productive afternoon.

For Twente, the defeat confirmed a fourth-place finish, meaning Europa League qualifying rather than Champions League football awaits them next season—a significant blow given how close they came.