The U.S. men’s national team is red hot and ready for the 2026 World Cup.
The co-host played a final pre-tournament friendly against European powerhouses and serious title-contenders Germany on Saturday in Chicago, Ill., resulting in a 2–1 loss. Nevertheless, the USMNT showed glimpses of brilliance and the ability to hang with a team much more surgical on the ball—the only two ingredients a nation needs, in addition to a small pinch of luck, to achieve global glory.