The U.S. men’s national team is set to play a friendly match against Senegal on May 31 in Charlotte, North Carolina, just before the World Cup kicks off. With four matches left before co-hosting the tournament with Mexico and Canada, the U.S., currently ranked 14th in the world, will face No. 8 Belgium on March 28 and No. 6 Portugal three days later in Atlanta. Following the matchup with Senegal, ranked 19th, they will compete against No. 9 Germany in Chicago on June 6.
This match will mark the first encounter between the U.S. and Senegal, as announced by the U.S. Soccer Federation on Thursday. During the World Cup, the U.S. will kick off Group D against No. 39 Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, California, followed by a match against No. 26 Australia in Seattle a week later, and they will return to Inglewood on June 25 to conclude the group stage against a playoff winner.
Senegal will start Group I with a match against No. 3 France on June 16, followed by a game against No. 29 Norway six days later in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Lions of Teranga will wrap up their first round on June 26 in Toronto against Bolivia, Iraq, and Suriname.
Fan Take: This upcoming friendly is crucial for building momentum as the World Cup approaches, allowing the U.S. to hone their tactics against a strong opponent. For soccer fans, this match represents a key opportunity to see how the team stacks up against international competition, which could have huge implications for their performance in the World Cup.
