USMNT makes five changes for Germany friendly in Chicago
Pochettino changed five starters and put a young, 45-cap lineup against No. 10 Germany, a stern test of the USMNT’s World Cup spine.
Mauricio Pochettino used the Germany friendly to draw a sharper outline around his World Cup core, making five changes from the Senegal match and turning Soldier Field into a stress test for the USMNT’s preferred spine. Matt Freese started in goal behind Sergiño Dest, Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson and Tim Ream, with Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Miles Robinson, Alex Freeman, Malik Tillman and Folarin Balogun completing the XI. Chris Richards was not dressed as he continued recovering from an ankle injury, a reminder that the back line remains fluid even as the tournament clock runs down.
The shape of the lineup suggested Pochettino is narrowing on experience without fully closing the door on competition. The starting group averaged 45 caps and 27 years, 235 days, and U.S. Soccer said it was the youngest lineup the team had used in 12 matches against Germany. Freese made his 15th appearance and started one day before the anniversary of his international debut. Ream wore the armband for the 29th time, tying Christian Pulisic for seventh on the USMNT’s all-time captains list, while Pulisic entered with 86 caps and 33 goals, one shy of Eric Wynalda’s 34 for fourth on the program’s scoring list.
The bench revealed the unresolved roster questions that still surround the team’s tactical identity. Gio Reyna, Ricardo Pepi, Brenden Aaronson, Tim Weah and Alex Zendejas gave Pochettino attacking options, while Joe Scally, Max Arfsten, Mark McKenzie and Auston Trusty supplied defensive cover. Chris Brady, Sebastian Berhalter, Cristian Roldan and Haji Wright added more midfield and front-line depth. The mix pointed to a coach still weighing how much vertical speed, creative risk and back-line stability he wants in reserve, even as Freeman continued his run with a 16th consecutive USMNT appearance.
Germany offered the cleanest measuring stick available. The Americans came in after a 3-2 win over Senegal in Charlotte; Germany arrived off a 4-0 rout of Finland in Mainz and carried a No. 10 FIFA ranking to the USMNT’s No. 16. The sides have met three times at the World Cup, in 1998, 2002 and 2014, and the United States trails Germany 4-8-0 overall. Soldier Field also staged the first U.S.-Germany meeting in 1994, a 4-3 German win, giving the send-off match a historical edge that fit the moment. One of four U.S. tune-up games before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it served as a direct audit of whether Pochettino’s preferred group can stand up to a top-tier opponent when the margins tighten.
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