CHICAGO — Germany's midfield found the game's only clear path to goal in a second-half sequence that decided a tight friendly. Leroy Sané converted a short pass from Kai Havertz in the 57th minute, sliding a diagonal shot between defender Miles Robinson's legs that deflected slightly and beat goalkeeper Matt Freese at the far post. The finish gave Germany a 2-1 win over the United States and preserved a nine-game winning streak heading into the World Cup.
Havertz had opened the scoring in the second minute, meeting Joshua Kimmich's free kick with a header at the top of the six-yard box. The goal came after Tyler Adams fouled just outside the penalty area — a set piece Germany has converted with quiet efficiency all season.
Antonee Robinson drew the Americans level in the 37th, curling a left-footed volley from the top of the arc after Jonathan Tah's headed clearance on Christian Pulisic's corner kick bounced loose. Robinson celebrated with a cartwheel and backflip, the kind of individual flourish that has defined his emergence as a creative option on the left flank.
The 16th-ranked United States has now lost nine consecutive games to European opponents since 2022 — a streak that spans two calendar years but reads as one extended result against a specific tier of competition. The Americans open their World Cup against Paraguay on Friday, then play Australia and Turkey.
Germany, ranked No. 10 and seeking a fifth title, begins group play against Curaçao on June 14 alongside Ivory Coast and Ecuador. The match drew 63,636 to Soldier Field, the same venue that hosted the 1994 World Cup opener — Chicago declined to bid for 2026 matches, citing what it called insufficient financial assurances from FIFA.
The U.S. played without top defender Chris Richards, who has been sidelined since tearing two left ankle ligaments on May 17. Matt Freese started in goal for the 15th time in 18 matches this cycle.
A friendly that said more about the road ahead
Germany's winning streak now includes a win over a side that will open the World Cup in eleven days. That is not a meaningless data point — it is the kind of result that Quietly stacks into a tournament favorite's confidence before the group stage even begins. For the United States, the loss extends a pattern against European competition that predates this cycle entirely, and the absence of Richards against Paraguay on Friday becomes a tactical question the roster must answer before kickoff.