The final rehearsal is here. Six days before the United States opens the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Paraguay in Los Angeles, Mauricio Pochettino’s men walked out at a sold-out Soldier Field in Chicago to face one of world football’s heavyweights — Germany — in the Coca-Cola Send-Off Match. No more dress rehearsals after this. No more room for tinkering. The real thing is knocking.
Electric Atmosphere, High Stakes
Chicago turned up. A sold-out crowd greeted both squads with the kind of noise that only a football-crazed city on the cusp of hosting the biggest sporting event on earth can generate. Germany — ranked in the world’s top ten and fresh off a ruthless 4-0 destruction of Finland just days ago — arrived on American soil with serious momentum. Julian Nagelsmann’s squad features the experience of Manuel Neuer, Antonio Rüdiger, Leroy Sané, and Joshua Kimmich, blended with a new generation of hungry young talent. This was no tune-up opponent.
Pochettino’s Puzzle: Rotation or Revelation?
The big talking point going into kickoff: how much would Poch show his hand? With the World Cup opener just six days away, there was genuine debate about whether the USMNT would deploy their true starting XI or keep key cards hidden. The expectation was a 3-4-2-1 system — the same shape that carved up Senegal 3-2 in their previous warm-up — with Matt Freese starting in goal and Christian Pulisic pulling strings in his familiar free role behind the striker. One position was already decided by injury: star centre-back Chris Richards was still being assessed after a knock, raising real concern about his availability for the Paraguay match. If Richards misses out, the defensive setup will need urgent adjustment.
The subplot everyone in Chicago was watching? Malik Tillman. The dynamic midfielder holds dual German-American citizenship and, having committed to the Stars and Stripes senior program, found himself lining up directly against his country of birth. Bundesliga regulars Gio Reyna and Joe Scally — both of Borussia Mönchengladbach — also brought an intimate knowledge of German football’s tendencies to the pitch. It was the kind of narrative gold that only football can produce.
Germany’s Warning Sign
For all the optimism in the American camp, Germany’s recent record demanded respect. Die Mannschaft were unbeaten in their last eight matches heading into Chicago, and Nagelsmann’s side has been quietly building one of the most complete squads at the 2026 tournament. Their last meeting with the US ended in a 3-1 German victory in 2023, with Gündoğan, Füllkrug, and a certain Jamal Musiala doing the damage. And here’s the fun historical stat: Germany have not lost their final warm-up match before a World Cup since 1978 — when they were still West Germany. That’s nearly five decades of pre-tournament dominance. No pressure, Poch.
Why This Match Matters
Yes, it’s a friendly. Yes, the result doesn’t count. But every minute of this game is intelligence — for both sides. Pochettino gets final data on fitness, combinations, and tactical timing. Nagelsmann gets a live test of his own systems before Germany’s opener against Curaçao on June 14. For the USMNT, the real prize is confidence. A gritty performance — or better yet, a victory — against a genuine World Cup contender on home soil, in front of 61,000 people, with the whole nation watching, would send the team into the tournament on a wave of belief. The momentum from the Senegal win needs to grow, not stall.
The World Cup isn’t just coming — it’s already here. And Soldier Field just handed America its last warm-up lap. Buckle up. 🇺🇸⚽🔥
