The U.S. men's national team was jubilant on Sunday in their first match as the official 26-man World Cup squad. That joy translated into an offensive fire and high-press energy that earned the Stars and Stripes a confidence-building 3–2 victory over No. 14 globally-ranked Senegal in the international friendly at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.
USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino named his final tournament roster on Tuesday, gifting 26 players the dream of a lifetime this summer: to play on soccer's grandest stage on home soil. The players kept that privilege in mind from the moment they stepped onto the field.
After the roster reveal, the No. 16 ranked U.S. had just four days to train together before Sunday's bout—the first of two pre-tournament friendlies ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Despite the lack of time together, the USMNT looked well-adjusted to each other, likely due to the pure joy they were playing with.
Christian Pulisic Is Back
Hand him his helmet and shield because "Captain America" is back.
U.S. Soccer's poster player needed less than seven minutes to silence his many doubters on Sunday, driving down the left flank in a way that was both explosive yet elegant, before threading the perfect pass to Sergiño Dest inside the box, who fired the ball into Senegal's net.
That brilliant sequence wasn't enough for Pulisic, who has faced relentless scrutiny from fans and media for months. Just 13 minutes later, the 27-year-old star forward darted down the center of the pitch, where he received a cross from striker Ricardo Pepi into the box. Pulisic's silky touch easily put him past the grasp of Senegal's goalkeeper Mory Diaw to secure a goal for himself.
The look of ecstasy on Pulisic's face said it all. The star striker had ended his club season with AC Milan on a severe offensive drought—the worst of his career. He went 19 games without a goal in Serie A play, dating back to 2025, and tallied just two assists in that time span. For the Stars and Stripes, the wait had been even longer, dating back to November 2024 since Pulisic's last goal.
As a result, media and fans have put him under an even bigger microscope, raising serious doubts about his potential to lead the USMNT this summer. Any concern has certainly been assuaged now.
Pulisic wasn't the only one with a significant resurgence, though. Dest made his first appearance in red and white since November, having suffered a hamstring injury in early March that sidelined him for two months and meant missing the March international window. Dest returned to action in early May and saw out the rest of club side PSV Eindhoven's season. He proved on Sunday that he has returned to 100%.
Pochettino's Heavy Experimentation
Mauricio Pochettino did nearly a complete line change at half time.
Pochettino returned to a three-back formation on Sunday, a tactical style that yielded the U.S. great success last fall but had been abandoned in the March international window in favor of a more traditional four-back lineup.
The return to the three-back, employing a 3-5-2, suited the Stars and Stripes well on Sunday, especially in the first half, encouraging a high press and front-footed mentality. The U.S. dominated possession in the first 45 minutes and spent most of its time in Senegal's half, forcing the visitors on their heels.
For a team still striving to create an identity ahead of the World Cup, the formation allowed the U.S. to present an attacking mindset.