Pre-World Cup 2026 friendlies: USA-Senegal, likely lineups

The ambitious United States is preparing to host the World Cup for the second time, although unlike 1994 the event is co-hosted with Canada and Mexico. Compared to thirty-two years ago, ‘soccer’ has changed considerably in the States, and the bar at the 2026 World Cup is quite high: merely getting through the round is not enough for coach Mauricio Pochettino, who has already asked his team to leave a lasting impression. The first stage of the preparation is a significant friendly with Senegal, scheduled for Sunday in Charlotte.

This year’s is the 12th participation of the United States in a World Cup: the best result is that of the very first edition, the 1930 one in Uruguay, when the U.S. selection overcame the group with Paraguay and Belgium and reached the semifinals, where they surrendered to Argentina, winner 6-1. FIFA, despite the fact that the ‘final’ had not been played, definitively awarded third place to the U.S. years later by virtue of better goal difference than the other defeated semifinalist, Yugoslavia beaten by champion Uruguay.

Senegal is also part of the 48 registered for the 2026 World Cup, having won its group in the African qualifiers. For the Lions of the Teranga it will be the fourth participation, the third consecutive: in the eyes of all fans remains the very first match played in the final phase of the World Cup, in 2002, with the late Papa Bouba Diop’s goal that was decisive in beating defending champion France in the opening match of that review, in which Senegal dreamed all the way to the quarters before being beaten by Turkish Ilhan Mansiz’s golden goal.

Probable lineups

USA (4-3-3): Freese; Freeman, Richards, Trusty, Robinson; McKennie, Berhalter, Adams; Weah, Pulisic, Tillman. Ct: Pochettino.

SENEGAL (4-3-3): Mendy; Diatta, M. Sarr, Niakhaté, Jakobs; Diarra, Camara, P. Sarr; I. Sarr, Jackson, Mané. Ct: Thiaw.