The U.S. men’s national team wasn’t going to take the easy route to the 2026 World Cup. Scheduling European powerhouse Germany for the tournament send-off was one of the toughest tests possible and an intentional choice, rather than playing a team the Stars and Stripes would surely beat to ensure good vibes.
It was a gamble, and it was worth it. The USMNT played to a 2–1 loss to the No. 10 globally ranked Germans on Saturday in front of a sold-out crowd of over 63,000 in Chicago, Ill., but it marked an overall positive, confidence-building result.
