Pochettino treating Germany friendly as a World Cup dress rehearsal

Exactly one week before the United States kicks off its home World Cup against Paraguay, the USMNT will close out its preparation with a heavyweight test: a matchup against four‑time world champion Germany this Saturday at Soldier Field in Chicago. Please confirm match details with a trusted source, as schedules can change.

For head coach Mauricio Pochettino, this final tune‑up is more than just another friendly — it’s the moment to lock in the lineup that will open the World Cup and to measure the team against one of the sport’s traditional powerhouses.

During Friday’s press conference, Pochettino didn’t hide the significance of the matchup. He even framed it as a potential preview of the tournament’s biggest stage.

“Tomorrow we’re playing a team we could easily face in a World Cup final. If we’re talking about the three to five strongest teams in the world, Germany is definitely one of them. It’s like anticipating a World Cup final,” he said. “Beyond the result, it’s important to fine‑tune our form and keep improving — collectively and individually. It’s a great chance to test ourselves and find our best version just days before the World Cup begins, and the most important thing, to finish with everyone healthy.”

Pochettino expects minimal rotation against Germany

With 25 of 26 players available — Chris Richards being the lone absence — Pochettino made it clear that not everyone will see the field. The priority is to field the most competitive XI possible for the full 90 minutes.

“We want to play against the best. We have 25 players available. It’s difficult for everyone to play tomorrow, but we’ll make the best decisions with the intention of competing, and being close to winning,” he said.

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