The United States men's national team will open their journey toward the 2030 World Cup with a busy stretch of four friendlies packed into 11 days, all set to be played on home soil in cities that were not part of this summer's World Cup hosting duties.
The schedule kicks off on 26 September when the Americans host Peru at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida. From there, the US squad will travel to St Louis to take on Chile at Energizer Park just three days later, on 29 September.
The slate then shifts to two matches against continental rivals. The long-standing US-Mexico rivalry will be renewed on 3 October at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, before the string of friendlies concludes on 6 October against Canada at Allianz Field in St Paul, Minnesota.
All four fixtures will be available to fans through TNT, HBO Max, Telemundo, Universo and Peacock.
The announcement follows a strong summer for the national team, which advanced to the round of 16 at the World Cup. These friendlies represent the first matches under new terms for head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who recently signed an extension keeping him in charge of the program through 2030 — the same year the tournament heads to Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
Pochettino expressed enthusiasm about beginning this next chapter in front of American supporters. "We are so excited to start this new phase of our journey with matches in front of our home fans," he said in a statement. "Their amazing energy during the summer has set the standard."
The Argentine coach also emphasized the value of testing his squad against quality opposition as preparations begin for the road to the next World Cup. "Our objective is always to play the best opponents possible, and these matches provide a variety of experiences for this group of players as we begin this new chapter of the US Men's National Team," Pochettino added.
The pairing of matches against Peru and Chile gives the USMNT a chance to test themselves against South American opposition, while the back-to-back clashes with Mexico and Canada offer a continuation of the fierce regional rivalries that have defined North American soccer in recent years. Both CONCACAF neighbors present different stylistic challenges and carry significant historical weight for American fans and players alike.
With World Cup qualification pathways for the 2030 edition still to be determined, these early friendlies will give Pochettino an opportunity to continue shaping his player pool and identify areas for growth following the summer tournament run. The selection of markets — none of which hosted matches during this year's World Cup — also reflects an effort by US Soccer to bring top-tier international competition to new fan bases across the country.
Further details regarding rosters, kickoff times and additional logistics for the four matches are expected to be released closer to the September start date. For now, the announcement marks the official beginning of a new era for the program as it sets its sights on the next World Cup cycle, with Pochettino signaling his intent to test his group against varied opponents in preparation for the challenges ahead.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.