Senegal and Germany: The last two tests for the United States before the 2026 World Cup

The United States men's national soccer team secured a narrow 3-2 victory over Senegal in a friendly match at the Bank of America Stadium, but the performance left more questions than answers for fans and analysts just days before the 2026 World Cup begins. Nearly 74,000 spectators witnessed the match, which served as the penultimate test for the U.S. squad.

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The U.S. is one of the three hosts of the next World Cup, along with Mexico and Canada, and will share Group D with the selections of Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey. In theory, the Stars and Stripes team is one of the favorites to win the group and easily advance to the round of 16.

While the U.S. team, managed by Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino, initially took a comfortable 2-0 lead with goals in the seventh and 20th minutes, their advantage was eroded by Senegal's comeback. The U.S. team's dominance in the first 40 minutes, driven by strong performances from Sergiño Dest, Christian Pulisic, and Ricardo Pepi, seemed to set them on a path to a straightforward win.

However, a significant drop in intensity and focus occurred after halftime when Pochettino made ten substitutions. The second-half squad appeared complacent, allowing Senegal to equalize. Defensive substitutions, in particular, seemed to backfire, as the team became predictable and passive, inviting pressure from the opponent. Despite these struggles, forward Folarin Balogun, who came on as a substitute, managed to score the decisive goal, rescuing the victory for the home side.

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The Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino's team achieved victory by 3-2, but the triumph raised more doubts than certainties, as after taking a 2-0 lead, the Senegalese managed to tie the game.

The U.S. team, co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and Canada, is grouped with Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey. While considered favorites to top their group, the performance against Senegal highlighted critical areas for improvement. The upcoming match against Germany on June 6 in Chicago will be their final opportunity to address these issues before their World Cup debut.

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The second-half team was completely different. The United States lost the two-goal advantage due to tactical and concentration failures of the substitutes, who came onto the field with overconfidence.