U.S. men play Senegal in Charlotte warm-up before World Cup

The United States men’s national team faces Senegal in a World Cup warm-up friendly on Sunday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The match is the penultimate tune-up for the U.S. before it co-hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins in less than two weeks.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino will oversee the team’s first match since announcing his 26-player World Cup squad last week. The U.S. is seeking to build momentum after suffering consecutive defeats in March to Belgium and Portugal. The match against Senegal, a formidable African side, represents a final opportunity to refine tactics and build confidence ahead of the tournament opener against Paraguay.

Senegal, known as the Lions of Teranga, arrives in strong form, having lost only two of its last 42 matches since the 2022 World Cup. The squad, led by star forward Sadio Mané, is preparing for a challenging World Cup group that includes France and Norway. The team may also carry additional motivation following a controversial Africa Cup of Nations final earlier this year, where it initially won the match but was later stripped of the title after players walked off the pitch in protest of a penalty decision.