Match Recap: USMNT’s Competitive Spirit Against Germany

The United States Men’s National Team lost the battle but won the war in their 2-1 loss to the German National Team. In their final preparation match before their opening match against Paraguay on Friday, June 12th, the USMNT showed it could compete with the 10th-ranked Germans. Competing with one of teh Blue Bloods in World Cup Soccer was both an affirmation and a confidence builder in front of a sellout crowd of 63, 636 fans at Chicago Soldier Field.

TUNE UPS OUT OF THE WAY

Saturday was a send-off of sorts for the Stars and Stripes, who will now head to Orange County, California, to prepare for next Friday. The German will be heading in the opposite direction as they make their way to their base camp at Wake Forest University in Winston- Salem, NC

SNEAP PEAK INTO STARTING XI

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino made five changes for the team’s send-off with the Germans. Defender Miles Robinson, midfielders Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman, and forward Folarin Balogun joined goalkeeper Matt Freese in the starting XI. The five players did not start in the teateam’s2 win over Senegal on May 31st.

DREAM START

It was a dream start for the Germans who took the lead two minutes into the contest on a set piece. The visitors were awarded a set piece 25 yards from the goal.Kai Havertz used a pick on Tim Ream to slip in behind the U.S. backline, and the forward ‘ sader from close range traveled into the back of the net to give Germany the one-goal lead in the light rain.  The U.S. showed determination, guile, and creativity with a quick response. Winger Sergino Dest had a decent look at thal in the 16th minute, only to see s left-footed ot sail over the crossbar. One minute later, striker Folarin Balogun had a left-footed shot of his own, which was blocked and resulted in a corner kick.

WONDER GOAL

The match was leveled in the 39th minute on a wonder goal from Antonee Robinson.  Forward Christian Pulisic started the play, pushing the ball to the right side with the dribble and an overlapping run. On the ensuing corner kick, GerGermany’searance sailed to Robinson at the top of the penalty arc. The fullback volleyed the clearance with his left foot and fired a screamer on target to equalize the match in the 39th minute. The defender celebrated his fifth career international goal with his trademark backflip.  The goal is to send the Soldier Field crowd into an absolute frenzy. The goal was the final of the first half as the teams went into the respective dressing rooms knotted at 1-1

NO CHANGES TO START THE SECOND HALF

Pochettino made no changes to start the second half, which can be taken as a clear indication that he wanted to take a long look at the starting XI. Now, whether that means this will be his starting XI remains to be seen. Germany showed its passing skills, off-ball movements, which resulted in the home side chasing the ball. The intricate passing by the visitors paid dividends in the 57th minute Germany worked the ball compactly with a sequence of short passes that resulted in midfielder Leroy Sané delivering a low strike that snuck past FreFreese’sve. 

SUBSTITUTIONS KEPT THE FIGHT

Pachettino made several changes in the 72nd minute. Tim Ream was replaced by Max Arfsten, Tyler Adams made way for Cristian Roldan, Malik Tillman was replaced by Brenden Aronson, Tim Weah replaced Sergino Dest and Folarin Balogun made way for Ricaardo Pepi. The changes saw the homeside turn on the afterburners in search of an equalizer. There were several chances, but the homeside was unable to find a breakthrough. The game ended with the Germans holding on for the 2-1 win.

Now, the USMNT officially steps onto the biggest stage in the global game. The U.S. travels to the West Coast and begins training in Irvine, Calif., ahead of its group stage opener. The tournament kicks off June 11 with pre-match ceremonies and a matchup between Mexico and South Africa at Mexico City Stadium. 

Goal Scoring Rundown:  

GER – KAI HAVERTZ (JOSHUA KIMMICH), 2nd minute: On a free kick about 25 yards from goal, Kimmich curled a ball into the box. With heavy traffic in the area and a timely pick on Tim Ream, Havertz meKimmich’s’s service and drove a header into the back of the net to open the scoring on the day. USA 0, GER 1 

USA – ANTONEE ROBINSON, 37th minute: Germany attempted to clear a U.S. corner kick with a header. The ball lofted to Robinson lingered right outside the half-circle above the 18-yard box. Jedi lined up a volley and used the Force of his left boot to hammer a searing strike that grazed the underside of the crossbar before driving into the back of the net. USA 1, GER 1 

GER – LEROY SANÉ (KAI HAVERTZ), 57th minute: Germany strung together some short passes in a tight space. Havertz found Sané with a short pass inside the box, and themidfielder’ss low strike with his left foot from about 16 yards out caught a deflection but had enough pace to sneak pastFreese’ss dive and roll into the left-side netting. USA 1, GER 2 FINAL 

Additional Notes: 

• Antonee Robinson scored his fifth international goal. It was thefullback’ss first goal since Nov. 20, 2023, at Trinidad and Tobago.
• Pochettino’ss 26-player roster features three members who play club soccer inGermany’ss top-flight league ,Bundesliga: Gio Reyna and Joe Scally are teammates at Borussia Mönchengladbach. German-born Malik Tillman plays for Bayer Leverkusen.
• The attendance of 63,636 is the highest ever for a MeMen’sational Team match at Soldier Field. 

Chris Richards did not dress due to recovery from an injury. 

– U.S. MEMEN’SATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT –  

Match: United States MeMen’sational Team vs. Germany 

Date: June 6, 2026  
Competition: International Match 
Venue: Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill. 
Attendance: 63,636 

Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. CT  
Weather: 77 degrees, sunny 

Scoring Summary	1	2	F
USA	1	0	1
GER	1	1	2

GER – Kai Havertz (Joshua Kimmich)	2nd minute
USA – Antonee Robinson	37
GER- Leroy Sané (Kai Havertz)	57

Lineups:  
 

USA: 24-Matt Freese; 16-Alex Freeman (23-Joe Scally, 72), 12-Miles Robinson (22-Mark McKenzie, 62), 13-Tim Ream (capt.) (18-Max Arfsten, 72), 5-Antonee Robinson (6-Auston Trusty, 63); 4-Tyler Adams (15-Cristian Roldan, 72), 17-Malik Tillman (11-Brenden Aaronson, 72); 2-Sergiño Dest (21-Tim Weah, 72), 8-Weston McKennie (14-Sebastian Berhalter, 62), 10-Christian Pulisic(7-Gio Reyna, 62); 20-Folarin Balogun (9-Ricardo Pepi, 72) 

Substitutes not used: 1-Matt Turner, 25-Chris Brady,19-Haji Wright, 26-Alex Zendejas. 

Head Coach: Mauricio Pochettino 

GER: 12-Oliver Baumann; 6-Joshua Kimmich (capt.) (3-Anton Waldemar, 61), 4-Jonathan Tah, 15-Nico Schlotterbeck, 18-Nathaniel Brown (22-David Raum, 61); 5-Alexsandar Pavlovic (16-Angelo Stiller, 80), 23-Felix Nmecha (8-Leon Goretzka, 80); 19-Leroy Sané (9-Jamie Leweling, 72), 10-Jamal Musiala (20-Nadiem Amiri, 80), 17-Florian Wirtz (14-Maximilian Beier, 80); 7-Kai Havertz (26-Deniz Undav, 61) 

Substitutes not used: 1-Jonas Urbig, 21-Alexander Nubel, 2-Antonio Rudiger, 11-Nick Woltemade, 13-Pascal Groß, 24-Malick Thiaw 

Head Coach: Julian Nagelsmann 

Stats Summary: USA / GER 
Shots: 16 / 12 
Shots on Goal: 4 / 4 

Saves: 2 / 3 
Corner Kicks: 10 / 2 
Fouls: 11 / 10 
Offsides: 3 / 4