USMNT Hosts Senegal in Charlotte in First of Final Two Matches Before FIFA World Cup 2026

ATLANTA (May 30, 2026) – The U.S. Men’s National Team will take on 14th-ranked Senegal in the first of the final two matches before the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The USA and Senegal will compete in the Allstate Continental Clásico at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. [TICKETS]. The match will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on TBS, HBO Max, Telemundo, Universo, and Peacock.

The match will be carried live on radio as Westwood One Sports delivers English language commentary while longtime partner Fútbol de Primera has the Spanish language call.

The encounter will provide the USMNT with one of two final opportunities to face a World Cup-qualified opponent ahead of the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

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DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Club/Country; Caps/Goals)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Matt Freese (New York City FC; 14/0), Matt Turner (New England Revolution; 53/0)

 DEFENDERS (10): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew; 18/1), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 37/2), Alex Freeman (Villarreal/ESP; 15/2), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/FRA; 27/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 80/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 36/3), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 52/4), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 38/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 24/0), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO; 6/0)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth/ENG; 52/2), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps; 11/1), Weston McKennie (Juventus/ITA; 64/12), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 36/9), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 45/0), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen/GER; 28/3)

 FORWARDS (7): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 57/9), Folarin Balogun (Monaco/FRA; 25/8), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 35/13), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 84/32), Tim Weah (Olympique Marseille/FRA; 49/7), Haji Wright (Coventry City/ENG; 20/7), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 13/2)

STARS, STRIPES & SENEGAL

Despite both nations having storied histories, Senegal and the United States have never faced each other in international competition. Ranked 14th in the Coca-Cola FIFA Men’s World Rankings, Senegal was drawn into Group I during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Draw on December 5 and will face France, Norway, and the winner of FIFA Playoff 2. In the opening match of the 2002 World Cup, the Teranga Lions took down then-reigning World Cup winners, France, going on to become only the second African team at that time to reach the quarterfinal stage. Senegal forward and a Liverpool legend who now plays for Al-Nassr, Sadio Mané is the most capped player and top scorer in the country’s history with 124 appearances and 52 goals. Senegal will make its third consecutive appearance at the World Cup in 2026.

AMERICAN SNIPERS

The USMNT strikers in Europe this season each led their respective teams in goals during league play during the 2025-26 season. In all competitions, Folarin Balogun scored 19 goals in 43 games with Monaco, Ricardo Pepi tallied 19 goals in 34 games for PSV Eindhoven and Haji Wright netted 18 goals in 43 games for Coventry City. The trio amassed a collective 56 goals across all competitions for their clubs this season. Versatile in their position, each of them also contributed assists during the year with Balogun registering four assists in all competitions and both Pepi and Wright contributing two total assists in all competitions.

TO EUROPE AND BEYOND

Following the conclusion of Europe’s domestic season, nine USMNT players have qualified for European competitions. Sergiño Dest and Ricardo Pepi secured a place in the UEFA Champions League with PSV Eindhoven while Alex Freeman did so with Villarreal. Auston Trusty earned a spot in the UEFA Champions League play-off round with Celtic. The quintet of Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen) and Tim Weah (Olympique Marseille) all helped their club earn places in the UEFA Europa League. Defender Chris Richards and Crystal Palace will also compete in the UEFA Europa League next season, after defeating Spanish-side Rayo Vallecano in the UEFA Conference League Final on May 27.

COMING TO QUEEN CITY

This is only the second match for the USMNT in Charlotte and at Bank of America Stadium, home of Charlotte FC. On July 2, 2023, the USA cruised to a 6-0 win against Trinidad and Tobago in the final match of Concacaf Gold Cup group play before 40,243 fans at Bank of America Stadium. Four players on the current roster competed in the match, Miles Robinson, Cristian Roldan, Matt Turner and Alex Zendejas. Overall, the USMNT has a 5L-1L-2D record in the state of North Carolina. Charlotte FC defender Tim Ream has earned 80 caps for the USMNT since 2011 and has served as U.S. captain 26 times, ranking him eighth on the team’s all-time captains list.

THE NEW HOME OF U.S. SOCCER

Following the opening of the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center at the beginning of May, the USMNT trained at the facility for the first time ahead of the match. Serving as home to all of U.S. Soccer’s 27 National Teams, the National Training Center brings the U.S. Way to life – creating a player-first environment built for performance, accessibility and long-term development the National Training Center will serve as a cornerstone for U.S. Soccer’s strategic ambitions, fueling the growth and accessibility of the game across the country. The USMNT will continue training at the complex ahead of its final match ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 in a final Coca-Cola Send-Off match against Germany.

ROSTER NOTES

• With 84 caps, Christian Pulisic is the most experienced player on the roster, followed by fellow 2022 World Cup veterans Tim Ream (80), Weston McKennie (64), Brenden Aaronson (57), Matt Turner (53), Tyler Adams (52), Antonee Robinson (52) and Tim Weah (49).
• Seven players debuted for the United States during the 2026 World Cup cycle: Alex Zendejas (Jan. 25, 2023 vs. Serbia), Auston Trusty (March 24, 2023 vs. Grenada), Folarin Balogun (June 15, 2023 vs. Mexico), Max Arfsten (Jan. 18, 2025 vs. Venezuela), Alex Freeman and Matt Freese (June 7, 2025 vs. Türkiye) and Sebastian Berhalter (June 10, 2025 vs. Switzerland).
• Heading into the final two matches before the tournament, the roster has an average of 35 caps per player, which currently ranks it as the sixth most experienced USMNT squad heading into a World Cup. The 26 players have earned an aggregate of 505 caps, which stands as the third most of all USMNT World Cup squads behind the 2006 (537 caps) and 2002 (518 caps) rosters.
• The roster features one uncapped player: goalkeeper Chris Brady.
• Players represent clubs in 10 different countries: USA/Canada - MLS (8), England (5), France (3), Germany (3), Italy (2), Netherlands (2), Mexico (1), Scotland (1) and Spain (1).
• The players represent hometowns in 12 different states: New York (4), California (3), Pennsylvania (3), Texas (3), New Jersey (2), Alabama (1), Delaware (1), Florida (1), Illinois (1), Massachusetts (1), Missouri (1) and Ohio (1).
• 22 players return from the squad that took part in the March 2026 camp, the additions being Adams, Dest, Wright and Zendejas.
• Strikers Folarin Balogun (19 goals in 43 games with Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (19 goals in 34 games for PSV Eindhoven) and Haji Wright (18 goals in 43 games for Coventry City) tallied a collective 56 goals across all competitions for their clubs this season.
• Charlotte FC captain Tim Ream, who will be 38 years, 250 days on the day of the opener against Paraguay, is the second oldest player named to a USMNT World Cup roster, ranking behind only 1950 World Cup squad member Frank Moniz (38 years, 272 days). Should he appear in the tournament, Ream would become the oldest player to play for the USMNT at the FIFA World Cup.
• The current roster scored 20 of the 33 total goals scored in 2025.
• Nine players represent eight different Major League Soccer clubs. Columbus Crew provides two players, along with one from Charlotte FC, Chicago Fire, FC Cincinnati, New England Revolution, New York City FC and Vancouver Whitecaps.
• Eighteen players come from European clubs, with five from England, four from France, three from Germany, two each from Spain and Italy, and one apiece from Netherlands and Scotland.
• Twelve players have represented the United States at a Youth World Cup: Tyler Adams (2015 U-17, 2017 U-20), Sergiño Dest (2017 U-17, 2019 U-20), Mark McKenzie (2019 U-20), Ricardo Pepi (2019 U-17), Christian Pulisic (2015 U-17), Gio Reyna (2019 U-17), Chris Richards (2019 U-20), Joe Scally (2019 U-17), Auston Trusty (2015 U-17, 2017 U-20), Tim Weah (2017 U-17, 2019 U-20), Haji Wright (2015 U-17), Alex Zendejas (2015 U-17)

IN FOCUS: SENEGAL

DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Club/Country; Caps/Goals)

GOALKEEPERS (2): Mory Diaw (Le Havre/FRA; 4/0), Edouard Mendy (Al-Ahli/KSA; 56/0)

DEFENDERS (9): Ilay Camara (Anderlecht/BEL; 3/0), Krepin Diatta (Monaco/FRA; 59/2), El Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham United/ENG; 18/1), Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray/TUR; 28/0), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal/KSA; 102/2), Moustapha Mbow (Paris FC/FRA; 0/0), Moussa Niakhate (Lyon/FRA; 29/0), Mamadou Sarr (Chelsea/ENG; 6/0), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa/ISR; 21/4)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Lamine Camara (Monaco/FRA; 31/5), Habib Diarra (Sunderland/ENG; 19/4), Idrissa Gueye (Everton/ENG; 130/7), Pape Gueye (Villarreal/ESP; 40/5), Bara Sapoko Ndiaye (Bayern Munich/GER; 0/0), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham/ENG; 38/4)

FORWARDS (7): Bamba Dieng (Lorient/FRA; 21/2),
Assane Diao (Como/ITA; 4/0), Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich/GER; 31/8), Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr/KSA; 126/53), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton/ENG; 38/4), Cherif Ndiaye (Samsunspor/TUR; 17/4)

LIONS ON THE PROWL

Senegal enters Sunday’s match having won eight of its past 10 matches, the lone defeat coming to Morocco in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Final. The Teranga Lions qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026 out of Group B, finishing ahead of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritania, South Sudan, Sudan and Togo. The squad completed the qualifying campaign with an undefeated record, amassing seven wins and three draws with a goal differential of 19. The qualifying result was a 4-0 victory over Mauritania on the final matchday.

Senegal is preparing to compete in its third consecutive World Cup and its fourth appearance overall, with the nation’s best finish coming in 2002 when it reached the quarterfinals in Korea Republic.

MAN IN CHARGE

The Teranga Lions are led by former Senegalese international Pape Thiaw, who was part of the country’s quarterfinal finish in 2002. Since his appointment in December 2024, Thiaw has amassed 24 victories in 30 games, including an appearance in the Africa Cup of Nations Final for the first time since 2021. Prior to becoming the head coach, Thiaw served as an assistant coach on the staff of his former teammate Aliou Cisse.

CLUB VERSUS COUNTRY

The two squad lists for Saturday afternoon’s matchup feature a trio of club teammates from both countries in Folarin Balogun with Lamine Camara and Krepin Diatta at Monaco in Ligue 1, Alex Freeman with Papa Gueye at Villarreal in La Liga and Chris Richards with Ismaila Sarr at Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

SUPER MANÉ

A legend of both African and European football, forward Sadio Mané will join Senegal to compete in his second World Cup. A member of the 2018 squad that was eliminated in the group stage, Mané suffered an injury after being selected for the 2022 edition, forcing him to miss out. Heralded for his clinical finishing and ability to step up in big moments, Mané was named African Player of the Year in 2019 and 2022, becoming the first Senegalese winner since 2002. The Al-Nassr forward also finished second in the 2022 Ballon d’Or following a domestic double in England winning the EFL Cup and FA Cup with Liverpool, in addition to reaching the Champions League Final.