CHICAGO (June 6, 2026) – In the final preparation match before FIFA World Cup 2026 on home soil, the U.S. Men’s National Team went toe-to-toe with 10th-ranked Germany but fell 2-1 in front of a sold-out and record crowd of 63,636 at Soldier Field, a close result that sends the U.S. to the sport’s biggest tournament with exposure to a quality opponent and confidence it can compete with a European heavyweight.
Saturday was the final of two send-off matches for the USMNT. The team next heads to the West Coast to train in Orange County ahead of its group stage opener against Paraguay on June 12 at Los Angeles Stadium. Germany entered the day on an eight-match winning streak and will depart for its FIFA World Cup 2026 base camp training site at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Defender Miles Robinson, midfielders Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman, and forward Folarin Balogun joined goalkeeper Matt Freese as the five changes USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino made from the starting XI last time out in the 3-2 win over Senegal on May 31 in Charlotte, N.C.
The visitors opened the scoring inside of the first two minutes of the match. On a set piece, Kai Havertz used a pick on Tim Ream to slip in behind the U.S. backline, and the forward's header from close range traveled into the back of the net to give Germany the one-goal lead in the light rain.
Trailing early, and as the sun broke through the clouds in Chicago, the U.S. showed a brave response, pushing the ball further up the attack and beginning to create chances. The first shot for the U.S. was a left-footed strike from outside the box from wingback Sergiño Dest in the 16th minute, which sailed over the crossbar. Striker Folarin Balogun followed it up less than one minute later with a left-footed shot of his own that was blocked by a Germany defender for a U.S. corner kick.
The U.S. drew even on a vicious strike from fullback Antonee Robinson that sent the fans at Soldier Field to a passionate frenzy. Forward Christian Pulisic started the play, pushing the ball to the right side with the dribble and an overlapping run. On the ensuing corner kick, Germany’s clearance sailed to Robinson at the top of the penalty arc. The fullback volleyed the clearance with his left foot and fired a screamer on target to equalize the match in the 39th minute. The defender celebrated his fifth career international goal with his trademark backflip.
The teams finished the first half even on the score sheet and in the stats box. The U.S. controlled 49 percent of the possession; Germany controlled 51 percent.
Unlike the May 31 match against Senegal, where he made 10 changes at halftime, Pochettino opted to keep his starters on the pitch to start the second half against Germany.
The visitors broke the deadlock in the 57th minute. Germany worked the ball compactly with a sequence of short passes that resulted in midfielder Leroy Sané delivering a low strike that snuck past Freese’s dive.
Like the first half, the U.S. found themselves trailing one goal and in need of a response after Pochettino made a handful of substitutions. In the match’s dying moments, the U.S. took some chances, including a shot from defender Joe Scally in the 81st minute that went just wide and a strike from forward Brenden Aaronson in the 87th that forced a save from German goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.
The stars showed up to see the USMNT’s final match before FIFA World Cup 2026. Chicago native Chance the Rapper fired up the fans and encouraged them to wave red and white flags. Also present were 15 members of the squad that represented the United States at the 1994 World Cup, the only other time the tournament has been hosted on American soil. U.S. greats such as John Harkes, Cobi Jones, Frank Klopas, Earnie Stewart, Eric Wynalda and more passed the torch on to the current group looking to make history and inspire the nation this summer.
Now, the USMNT officially steps onto the biggest stage in the global game. The U.S. travels to the West Coast and begins training in Irvine, Calif. ahead of its group stage opener. The tournament kicks off June 11 with pre-match ceremonies and a matchup between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City Stadium.
Goal Scoring Rundown:
GER–KAI HAVERTZ (JOSHUA KIMMICH),2nd minute: On a free kick about 25 yards from goal, Kimmich curled a ball into the box. With heavy traffic in the area and a timely pick on Tim Ream, Havertz met Kimmich’s service and drove a header into the back of the net to open the scoring on the day. USA 0, GER 1
USA –ANTONEE ROBINSON,37th minute: Germany attempted to clear a U.S. corner kick with a header. The ball lofted to Robinson lingering right outside the half-circle above the 18-yard box. Jedi lined up a volley and used the Force of his left boot to hammer a searing strike that grazed the underside of the crossbar before driving into the back of the net. USA 1, GER 1
GER – LEROY SANÉ (KAI HAVERTZ), 57th minute: Germany strung together some short passes in a tight space. Havertz found Sané with a short pass inside the box, and the midfielder’s low strike with his left foot from about 16 yards out caught a deflection but had enough pace to sneak past Freese’s dive and roll into the left-side netting. USA 1, GER 2 FINAL
Additional Notes:
Match: United States Men’s National Team vs. Germany
Date: June 6, 2026
Competition: International Match
Venue: Soldier Field; Chicago, Ill.
Attendance: 63,636
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. CT
Weather: 77 degrees, sunny
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | F |
| USA | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| GER | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| GER - Kai Havertz (Joshua Kimmich) | 2nd minute |
| USA - Antonee Robinson | 37 |
| GER- Leroy Sané (Kai Havertz) | 57 |
Lineups:
USA: 24-Matt Freese; 16-Alex Freeman (23-Joe Scally, 72), 12-Miles Robinson (22-Mark McKenzie, 62), 13-Tim Ream (capt.) (18-Max Arfsten, 72), 5-Antonee Robinson (6-Auston Trusty, 63); 4-Tyler Adams (15-Cristian Roldan, 72), 17-Malik Tillman (11-Brenden Aaronson, 72); 2-Sergiño Dest (21-Tim Weah, 72), 8-Weston McKennie (14-Sebastian Berhalter, 62), 10-Christian Pulisic (7-Gio Reyna, 62); 20-Folarin Balogun (9-Ricardo Pepi, 72)
Substitutes not used: 1-Matt Turner, 25-Chris Brady, 19-Haji Wright, 26-Alex Zendejas
Head Coach: Mauricio Pochettino
GER: 12-Oliver Baumann; 6-Joshua Kimmich (capt.) (3-Anton Waldemar, 61), 4-Jonathan Tah, 15-Nico Schlotterbeck, 18-Nathaniel Brown (22-David Raum, 61); 5-Alexsandar Pavlovic (16-Angelo Stiller, 80), 23-Felix Nmecha (8-Leon Goretzka, 80); 19-Leroy Sané (9-Jamie Leweling, 72), 10-Jamal Musiala (20-Nadiem Amiri, 80), 17-Florian Wirtz (14-Maximilian Beier, 80); 7-Kai Havertz (26-Deniz Undav, 61)
Substitutes not used: 1-Jonas Urbig, 21-Alexander Nubel, 2-Antonio Rudiger, 11-Nick Woltemade, 13-Pascal Groß, 24-Malick Thiaw
Head Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Stats Summary: USA / GER
Shots: 16 / 12
Shots on Goal: 4 / 4
Saves: 2 / 3
Corner Kicks: 10 / 2
Fouls: 11 / 10
Offsides: 3 / 4
| Misconduct Summary | |
| GER - David Raum (Caution) | 69th minute |
| GER - Maximilian Beier (Caution) | 90 |
| USA - Tim Weah (Caution) | 90+2 |
| GER - Nico Schlotterbeck (Caution) | 90+2 |
Officials:
Referee: Piero Mazo (CHI)
Assistant 1: Juan Serrano (CHI)
Assistant 2: Alejandro Molina (CHI)
Fourth Official: Fernando Vejar (CHI)
VAR 1: Yasith Monge (CRC)
VAR 2: Jesus Montero (CRC)
Michelob Ultra Man of the Match: Antonee Robinson