Overview
- The U.S. will play Senegal in a high-profile send-off friendly that coaches intend as a live test of the squad ahead of the tournament.
- U.S. Soccer has named a 26-player roster that leans defensive with 13 defenders and multiple center-back options, creating a selection puzzle for starting partners next to Chris Richards.
- Mauricio Pochettino plans to run a 3-4-2-1 style that relies on attacking fullbacks and interchangeable attacking mids, and he will evaluate how that shape works against Senegal’s pace and physicality.
- Key decisions expected to be settled by the match include the pecking order among goalkeepers, the backup choices for Tyler Adams in midfield, and whether Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic fit as the primary front-line pairing.
- Senegal arrives with recent strong results and experienced players such as Sadio Mané and Kalidou Koulibaly, so the game will offer a meaningful measure of the U.S. team’s cohesion after an uneven run of form earlier this year.