World Cup Preparation Schedule Is Set

USMNT Completes Pre-World Cup Friendly Schedule with Match Against Senegal

The United States men's national team has finalized its pre-World Cup friendly schedule, announcing Thursday that it will face Senegal on May 31 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The match at Bank of America Stadium, kicking off at 3:30 p.m. ET, completes a challenging four-game slate designed to prepare Mauricio Pochettino's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The meeting with the 19th-ranked African nation marks the first-ever encounter between the two countries at senior international level. Senegal, led by former Liverpool star Sadio Mané, went unbeaten through African qualifying with seven wins and three draws while conceding just three goals across 10 matches.

"We are so happy to have such a great team in Senegal as our fourth opponent in the matches leading up into the tournament," Pochettino said. "In the year leading up to the World Cup, we will have played at least one team from five different confederations which is incredibly valuable for our preparations."

The Senegal fixture represents the penultimate match before the Americans' World Cup opener against Paraguay on June 12. The U.S. will first face Belgium on March 28 in Atlanta, followed by Portugal three days later at the same venue. After the Senegal contest, the Americans close their preparations against Germany on June 6 in Chicago. This strategic scheduling ensures the USMNT faces elite competition from multiple confederations. Since the conclusion of last summer's Gold Cup, the Americans have exclusively played World Cup-qualified opponents, including victories over Paraguay, Uruguay, Australia, and Japan.

The Senegal match should feature Pochettino's final 26-man World Cup roster, as the Argentine has indicated he plans to finalize his squad before the camp rather than conducting last-minute tryouts. The coach expressed his preference for bringing only the final roster to avoid difficult late cuts. Interestingly, the two nations could potentially meet in the round of 32 at the World Cup depending on group standings, adding extra intrigue to this pre-tournament matchup. Senegal will compete in Group I against France, Norway, and a playoff qualifier.