USMNT

The United States men’s national team only have four games left to play until the 2026 World Cup. That’s right, there are just four 2026 USMNT friendlies before the Stars and Stripes take on the planet’s best in the World Cup.

U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino will get to test his players against Europe’s elite next year with top European nations on the schedule.

Here’s a look at who the USMNT will face before the World Cup next summer.

2026 USMNT friendlies

Exact dates are still TBA.

The United States men’s national team will be without star player Christian Pulisic for the upcoming November friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay. For fans asking why is Pulisic not playing for US? Here’s why.

Pulisic is still recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered while playing for the USMNT against Australia on Oct. 14. The U.S. national team and Pulisic’s club AC Milan have made an agreement to keep the 27-year-old forward in Italy for the November international window.

Why is Pulisic not playing for US in November friendlies

The United States men’s national team roster for the 2026 World Cup is a true mystery just eight months away from the start of the tournament. Cristian Roldan threw another curveball into the plan with an impressive performance in the midfield during the USMNT’s 2-1 friendly win vs. Australia on Tuesday.

It’s no secret that the 30-year-old Seattle Sounders midfielder has his fair share of critics among the U.S. fanbase. Roldan has often been a metaphorical punching bag for fans during his limited appearances for the national team over the past few years.

U.S. men’s national team forward, Alejandro Zendejas, delivered a performance to remember on Saturday night, as Club América dismantled rivals Pumas UNAM 4-1 in a fiery Clásico Capitalino at the Estadio Azulcrema. 

Embed from Getty Images

The appearances of Americans in Europe’s most prestigious club competition has become a norm in the past few decades. With players like Weston McKennie who has played in five straight editions of the competition and Christian Pulisic who won the tournament in 2021 with Chelsea, the UEFA Champions League has gotten accustomed to seeing the United States’ best.

With appearances, though, comes the most important part of the game and an honor that many of today’s American Champions League stars have under their belt in the tournament — scoring goals.

In one of the strangest national team stories in recent memory, Borussia Mönchengladbach and USMNT defender, Joe Scally, was reportedly left off the U.S. men’s national team’s September roster… for doing donuts in a golf cart. 

Yes, you read that right. 

Joe Scally golf cart rumor

Ladies and gentlemen, the United States men’s national team are beginning to seriously worry me. If the “worry scale” was similar to DEFCON then I’d say the USMNT are at DEFCON 3.

U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino shocked fans on Tuesday with a bizarre 22-man roster for two September friendlies. Big names like Weston McKennie, Johnny Cardoso, Antonee Robinson, Folarin Balogun, Yunus Musah and Gio Reyna were all left off the roster.

Robinson and Balogun are returning from injury, however the rest were simply left off the roster due to a coaching decision.

In times of great crisis and uncertainty for the United States men’s national team, the supporters can always count on one thing. That single thing: Taylor Twellman is going to supply the people with a great rant about the team and U.S. Soccer.

Pulisic is back, ladies and gents.

Christian Pulisic wasted no time getting back on the scoresheet, netting a goal in AC Milan’s 2-0 victory over SSC Bari in the opening match of the Italian 2025/26 season.

The win came in the Coppa Italia, with the rossoneri kicking off their campaign at home in front of an enthusiastic San Siro crowd.