USA host Germany at Soldier Field in a final World Cup dress rehearsal
Mauricio Pochettino’s co-hosts close out their preparations against Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany in Chicago on Saturday, the last test before the tournament begins.
Jun 5, 2026
The waiting is almost over for the United States. On Saturday they host Germany at Soldier Field in Chicago, the final warm-up before Mauricio Pochettino’s side open a home World Cup against Paraguay on June 12. For both teams, this is the last 90 minutes of experimentation before the real thing.
It is a meaty test to sign off on. Germany are among the favourites for the tournament, and a glance at the history between these two explains why the USMNT will want to make a point. In 12 meetings Germany have won eight to the Americans’ four, and the fixture has never once produced a draw.
Pochettino’s selection puzzle
The USA arrive on the back of a 3-2 win over Senegal in which Pochettino handed minutes to 22 players, a clear sign he is still weighing up his strongest team. That generosity has to narrow now. With the opener a week away, Saturday is the moment to settle on a spine and let his first-choice players build some rhythm rather than rotate again.
The home crowd will help. Playing a heavyweight in front of a packed Soldier Field is exactly the sort of occasion Pochettino wants his squad to feel before the pressure of a World Cup group lands on them.
Germany manage their minutes
Nagelsmann has taken a different route. He made only four changes in Germany’s win over Finland, keeping his core together, though he may have a couple of calls forced on him here. Manuel Neuer missed the Finland games and has yet to return to full training, so the goalkeeper looks set to sit this one out. Striker Deniz Undav is carrying a gluteal injury and could be rested as a precaution.
Neither manager will want an injury this close to kick-off, which tends to take a little of the edge off these games. Even so, a meeting between a confident host nation and one of the pre-tournament favourites should tell us plenty. By Saturday night, both Pochettino and Nagelsmann will have a clearer idea of the team they trust when it actually counts.