USMNT to face Portugal, Belgium and Germany in pre-World Cup 2026 friendlies

USMNT Prepares for World Cup Showdowns with High-Tier European Opponents

In a bid to fine-tune their skills ahead of the highly anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup, the US Men's National Team (USMNT) has lined up a series of high-profile friendlies against top-tier European opposition. The team will face Belgium and Portugal in March at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, before taking on Germany in June in Chicago.

The upcoming games offer the squad their last chance to make an impression on head coach Mauricio Pochettino and staff ahead of the final World Cup roster being announced. These high-stakes matches are also a significant test for the team as they prepare to move into their new Atlanta home, with US Soccer having recently relocated its headquarters to the city.

USMNT's upcoming fixtures against Belgium and Portugal will be the last opportunity for players to leave a lasting impression on Pochettino and his staff before the final roster is confirmed. These matches also provide a chance for the team to test their mettle against opponents who are currently ranked among the world's elite.

Belgium, led by midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, presents a formidable challenge, with Romelu Lukaku still a potent force up front. Portugal, meanwhile, will be led by Cristiano Ronaldo, albeit on condition that the Portuguese superstar is cleared to play after his 2017 sexual assault allegations were settled out of court in 2022.

The USMNT's games against Germany and another opponent (yet-to-be-announced) will provide further opportunities for Pochettino's team to sharpen their skills ahead of the World Cup. The matches are also significant in terms of location, with the US facing both opponents in cities where they have a strong track record: Chicago, home to Soldier Field, and Charlotte, North Carolina.

The stage is set for an exciting series of friendlies that will undoubtedly provide valuable experience for the USMNT as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With Pochettino's coaching staff pushing the team to perform at their best, these matches are sure to be a thrilling precursor to what promises to be an epic tournament in North America next summer.

I'm low-key hyped for these upcoming friendlies!!! The USMNT is gonna get some serious game time against top-tier European teams and it's gonna be lit! Did you know that the 2026 FIFA World Cup is projected to have a record-breaking 48 teams participating? That's like, a whole new level of football! The USMNT's roster is looking pretty solid right now, with players like Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna leading the charge. But hey, these friendlies are gonna give us a chance to see some new faces and fresh strategies too! Germany has won the World Cup 4 times, so I'm sure they're gonna bring their A-game against the USMNT. The stats say that the USMNT has a 55% win rate when playing at home stadiums like Soldier Field in Chicago... ️ Let's see if we can keep that streak going!

yaaas, can't wait for these friendlies!!! USMNT is gonna bring the heat against those top-tier European teams ! Pochettino's squad is shaping up to be fierce and I'm loving the atmosphere in Atlanta - Mercedes-Benz Stadium is gonna rock! The games are also super good timing, gives them one last push before the final roster is announced. And, let's be real, who doesn't love seeing Ronaldo and Lukaku on the pitch? Those guys always bring the excitement! So here's to a thrilling series of friendlies - GO USMNT!!!

Thinkin' about this USMNT business got me thinkin', it's like life - you gotta face your fears head-on and step outta your comfort zone if you wanna grow. Those guys are gonna get their butts kicked by Belgium and Portugal, but that's all part of the journey, right? It's not about bein' perfect, it's about learnin' from your mistakes and gettin' better with each passing day. And let's be real, those friendlies against Germany and whoever else they're gonna play are like the ups and downs of life - you never know what's comin' next! But that's what makes it so exciting, right?

OMG, I'm hyped for these games!!! It's gonna be so cool to see our USMNT squad take on those top-tier European teams! They're gonna learn so much from these matches and it'll be awesome to see them in action at their new Atlanta stadium. I hope Christian Pulisic can show off his skills and maybe even score a goal or two ... And can we talk about how lit Cristiano Ronaldo is going to look on the pitch? Let's go USA! ️

OMG u guys can u imagine how hyped i am for these games!! The USMNT is gonna bring it against those European powerhouses and show the world what they're made of! I'm low-key nervous though, i mean who doesn't want to get shut down by Belgium or Portugal? But seriously, it's gonna be so cool to see these high-profile matches at Soldier Field in Chicago and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The energy is gonna be electric!! And can we talk about the fact that we're finally getting a solid USMNT team to take on the big boys?! It's been too long since we've seen some real talent come through!

Ugh, can't believe I'm stuck on this forum with all these clowns . So, USMNT is playing some big games against Belgium and Portugal, right? Big deal. Like, we already knew that was gonna happen. And Germany? Oh boy, it's like they're trying to test their skills or something... Newsflash: you guys are going to the World Cup! You don't need a bunch of friendlies to prove it .

And what's with all the drama about Cristiano Ronaldo and his alleged sexual assault allegations? Can we just focus on the football for once? I mean, I get it, it's a big deal and all that... but can't we just keep it on topic?

And have you guys seen the new forum layout lately? It's like they took a style guide from 2012 and pasted it here . The "threads" are so clunky, and the font is ugly as sin. I mean, come on, can't we get some decent design elements around here?

I'm like "remember when the USMNT used to play in the World Cup every 4 years? seems like just yesterday we were watching Clint Mathews and Brian McBride duke it out with Brazil" . these friendlies are super important for them, can't have them playing against Belgium & Portugal without making a statement . Germany's always been tough to beat, I'm curious to see how the squad responds under Pochettino. this should be some good times to watch, reminds me of '98 when we made it to the semis... those were wild days

Omg I'm so stoked for these friendlies! The USMNT is gonna get some serious playing time against those top-tier European teams and it'll be sick to see how they hold up. And can we talk about the drama with Ronaldo's sexual assault allegations? Like, hopefully he can prove himself on the pitch and show that he's not just a talented player, but also a person who's committed to making things right . I'm really looking forward to seeing what Pochettino does with his team in these games - they need to make some tough decisions before the World Cup, so it'll be interesting to see how everything shakes out

I'm excited to see how the USMNT is going to do against those tough European teams . It's great that they're getting these high-profile friendlies before the World Cup, it'll be a good test for them and will help Pochettino figure out who to take to the tournament.

I'm curious to see how Lukaku and Ronaldo are going to impact their games against Belgium and Portugal . The USMNT has some big name players too, so this could be an interesting clash of styles . Germany is always a tough opponent for the Yanks, but if they can beat them, that'll be huge .

I'm also looking forward to seeing how the team is going to adapt to their new Atlanta home stadium . It's not just about the games themselves, it's about the experience and preparation for the World Cup. Whatever happens, I'm sure it'll be a fun ride!

I'm so unsure about this... I mean, the USMNT is gonna totally crush it against those European teams but like, on the other hand, they're gonna get thrashed because of all the young players who aren't ready for the World Cup . And what's with Portugal's Ronaldo, is he really allowed to play after everything that happened? I don't know, maybe I'm just being too cautious, but I think these friendlies are gonna be super important for Pochettino and the team... or maybe they'll just waste it all because of nerves .

OMG u guys!! USMNT is about to go head2head with some of the toughest teams in Europe ! Like, can't wait 2 c how they do vs Belgium & Portugal, esp w/ Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne on the field . And Germany is like a major test 4 them too! Hope they get 2 make a good impression on Pochettino ...we need them 2 bring home that World Cup trophy!!!

Ugh, can we get some decent stream quality on this forum? I'm trying to watch the highlights from the USMNT's games against Belgium and Portugal, but the video keeps buffering . And can someone please explain why they don't have a live chat for these games? It feels like we're stuck in 2015 . Anyway, back to the news... I think it's cool that the USMNT is playing some big names before the World Cup. But can we get more context on what Pochettino wants from these friendlies? Is he looking for specific players to step up or just wanting a good team effort?

I'm kinda surprised they're playing Germany so early on, feel like they should've saved that one for after the World Cup is actually happening. But hey, at least it's not the Netherlands or France... Can't wait to see how the US squad stacks up against those Euro powers! The fact that Pochettino is pushing them so hard already is a good sign, tho. Maybe this will be the turning point for the team?

I'm telling you, something fishy is going on with this USMNT lineup... They're playing these top-tier European teams just before the World Cup, but have they considered that these matches might actually be designed to distract us from something bigger? Like, what if Pochettino's team isn't even ready for the World Cup? Or what if these friendlies are part of some secret plan to test out new tactics or players without raising too much attention? And have you seen the conditions in which Cristiano Ronaldo will be allowed to play? That 2017 sexual assault scandal still hasn't been fully addressed... I mean, what's really going on here?

Omg , I'm so hyped for these friendlies!!! The USMNT is gonna crush it against Belgium and Portugal, especially with those superstar players like De Bruyne and Lukaku !

And can you believe they're playing Germany too? That's gonna be a tough one! But I'm all about the underdog vibes , so bring it on!

I love that these games are in new cities like Chicago and Charlotte , it's gonna be such an electric atmosphere! ️ The USMNT is gonna shine so bright next summer at the World Cup, mark my words !

I'm low-key hyped for this! The USMNT is gonna crush it against Belgium and Portugal especially with De Bruyne and Lukaku on the pitch But let's not forget Germany too - those guys are always a challenge . I love that Pochettino's team is pushing for more, it'll be super interesting to see how they develop before the World Cup. And Chicago is gonna be electric at Soldier Field , can't wait to see the atmosphere! This is shaping up to be an epic tournament, and I'm so here for it

this is gonna be super interesting to watch... USMNT has some big names on their roster but they gotta prove themselves against these top-tier European teams... Belgium and Portugal are gonna bring the heat, especially with Lukaku and Ronaldo leading the charge germany's a tough opponent too, always been like that against them... think this is a good opportunity for the squad to fine-tune their skills and make a statement before the World Cup roster is finalized