USMNT Lineup and Player Status
Sergiño Dest and Antonee Robinson continue as the expected starters at right and left, respectively, regardless of whether Mauricio Pochettino opts for wing-backs or full-backs on any given match day.
Interestingly, this marks the first occasion the pair have started together under Pochettino, who today is managing his 25th match as the USMNT head coach. Their previous joint start was in the 2024 Concacaf Nations League final on March 25, 2024, where the United States secured a 2-0 victory over Mexico.
Dest suffered an ACL tear between that March window and the subsequent Copa América, while Robinson has missed significant time over the past year due to his own injuries.
According to the broadcast countdown, kickoff is scheduled for 3:38 pm Eastern Time, with just under 15 minutes remaining before the United States men’s team has their first opportunity to respond following disappointing performances in March against Belgium (5-2 loss) and Portugal (2-0 loss).
This lineup should provide a solid basis to evaluate three key storylines planned for close observation during today’s friendly and next weekend’s match against Germany:
- Will Christian Pulisic end his scoring drought?
- Is Alex Freeman more likely to play at right center-back rather than right-back or right wing-back?
- Will Gio Reyna or another player establish themselves as a reliable super-sub?
Freeman is starting in the role, which likely answers the second question, assuming Chris Richards remains unavailable.
Senegal Lineup: Six Changes from AFCON Final
Senegal’s lineup is similarly balanced, led by the same front three that started the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco: Iliman Ndiaye, Nicolas Jackson, and Sadio Mané. Mory Diaw of Le Havre starts in goal, with Édouard Mendy not listed among the substitutes.
Krepin Diatta and Ismail Jakobs are expected to challenge the US wing-backs by pushing them back into their own half with their forward runs, while Lamine Camara appears set to orchestrate play in midfield. Notable players on the bench include El Hadji Malick Diouf, Ilay Camara, Pape Gueye, Pape Matar Sarr, and Bamba Dieng. Idrissa Gana Gueye is absent from the bench entirely.
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The pitch at Bank of America Stadium is likely to be a significant factor today. The stadium’s usual playing surface is artificial turf, but for this match, natural grass has been laid over it.
Unlike the advanced, carefully researched pitches planned for use in this summer’s World Cup, this field is more traditional, with sod having been installed only a week ago. Senegalese players were observed during training yesterday assessing how the ball reacts on the surface, and they appeared unimpressed. Considering the importance of avoiding injury so close to the World Cup, this will be an important aspect to monitor.
There is a vibrant atmosphere outside Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, with a remarkable number of US kits visible, especially the red-and-white, flag-themed kits that will be worn during this summer’s tournament.
There is also a strong Senegalese presence, though they are expected to be outnumbered by US fans today. The atmosphere inside the stadium remains to be seen, as many tickets are still available at face value.
Currently, the lowest ticket price on SeatGeek is $68, while Ticketmaster’s lowest face value price approximately 35 minutes before kickoff is $38.65.
Match Regulations and Substitutions
According to Pablo, who is present at the stadium today, both teams are allowed to make up to 11 substitutions to maintain player freshness ahead of the World Cup. To preserve the flow of the game, teams are restricted to the usual three substitution windows during the match, plus the ability to make changes at halftime without using one of those windows.
USMNT Starting Formation: 3-4-2-1
The lineup features a combination of projected starters and alternatives for this initial tune-up, with Matt Turner earning his second international start since June 2025.
Sergiño Dest and Antonee Robinson occupy the right and left wing-back positions, respectively, while the center-back trio from right to left consists of Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie, and Tim Ream. Sebastian Berhalter and Tyler Adams form the double-pivot midfield beneath Christian Pulisic (who is notably not playing as a striker) and Gio Reyna. Ricardo Pepi starts as the lone forward.
Mauricio Pochettino in Talks with Milan
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino has engaged in discussions with Serie A club AC Milan regarding the possibility of taking over as their manager next season, according to confirmation from .
Pregame Insights: Confidence in Pulisic
Mauricio Pochettino approaches the 2026 World Cup with considerable confidence in his team’s key player, Christian Pulisic, despite a recent incident where Pulisic requested to be excused from national team duties.
Pochettino generated controversy after informing some players of their exclusion from the squad via email.
"Mauricio Pochettino ruffled some feathers after notifying his snubs that they’d been left off the squad over email."
@.soccer has also gathered fan reactions regarding this story.
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The reality of the upcoming tournament is now imminent. The US team takes one of its final preparatory steps before the 2026 World Cup begins in just a few hours. Jeff will soon provide live guidance through the match.
