Germany take on USA in World Cup dress rehearsal

Germany take on FIFA World Cup 2026 co-hosts USA in Chicago on Saturday in their final friendly before the tournament (kick-off: 7:30pm CEST).

The four-time world champions are looking to maintain their perfect record in the build-up to the World Cup, having beaten Switzerland, Ghana and Finland since booking their place in Canada, Mexico and the USA back in November.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side, who face Curaçao (14 June, Houston), Ivory Coast (20 June, Toronto) and Ecuador (25 June, East Rutherford) in Group E, made light work of Finland at Mainz's MEWA Arena last weekend, winning 4-0 thanks to goals from Bayern Munich playmaker Jamal Musiala, VfB Stuttgart forward Deniz Undav (two) and former Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz.

Bayern teenager Lennart Karl impressed on his full international debut, while club-mate Manuel Neuer - who has come out of international retirement to play at the World Cup - missed the game through injury. It remains to be seen if the 40-year-old goalkeeper will be fit to feature in the Windy City.

Watch: Looking back on Manuel Neuer's 2025/26 season

Manuel Neuer's 2025/26 season in retrospect

The US squad boasts Borussia Mönchengladbach duo Gio Reyna and Joe Scally and Leverkusen's Malik Tillman, as well as former Bundesliga players Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic, Chris Richards and Haji Wright. 

Pulisic, who enjoyed a career-shaping stint at Borussia Dortmund, was among the goals as Mauricio Pochettino's team beat Senegal 3-2 on Sunday.

Follow USA vs. Germany below!

VS

USA

Sat, 06.06 18:30

Germany

Friendly
World Cup warm-up World Cup warm-up Soldier Field, Chicago

Pulisic goal

The US were also in action on Sunday, sneaking past Senegal 3-2. Former Dortmund ace Christian Pulisic was among the goals in Charlotte.

© IMAGO/Patrick Magoon

Germany overpower Finland

Deniz Undav scored twice and made another as Germany beat Finland 4-0 in Mainz on Sunday. Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala were also on target, while teenager Lennart Karl marked his full debut with an assist.

© KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV

Fearsome frontline options

Former Augsburg man Ricardo Pepi (pictured) netted 19 goals in 34 games in all competitions for Dutch champions PSV in 2025/26, while Monaco striker Folarin Balogun bagged the same amount in 43 games. Coventry's Haji Wright is another dangerous option for Mauricio Pochettino; he scored 18 goals in 43 matches on the way to winning the English Championship and earning promotion to the Premier League.

© IMAGO/DeFodi.de

2:29

Watch: The Bundesliga's best Americans

Out for an upset

The United States will look to record an eye-catching win over Germany as they prepare to host the World Cup for the first time since 1994, and they've proven they're capable of it before. They've won two of their past five meetings with Germany, the most recent of which was in 2015, when Mix Diskerud (pictured) and Bobby Wood fired them to a 2-1 friendly win in Cologne.

© imago sportfotodienst

7:42

Christian Pulisic: Made in the Bundesliga

The former Dortmund wonderkid is now a seasoned pro having played amongst Europe's elite since his early days at Signal Iduna Park. But how did his footballing journey begin?

Gladbach duo make the cut

Both Gio Reyna and Joe Scally will represent their country at their home tournament, with Reyna making the squad despite an injury-hampered season that saw him make just four league starts.

© IMAGO/Norbert Jansen / fohlenfoto

Bundesliga influence

The World Cup host nation's squad for this summer's tournament contains nine players that have played or are currently still playing in the Bundesliga, such as: Chris Richards, Joe Scally, Tyler Adams, Gio Reyna, Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman, Brenden Aaronson, Christian Pulisic (pictured) and Ricardo Pepi.

© IMAGO/William Volcov

Hello and welcome!

Welcome to live coverage of this friendly fixture between USA and Germany.

About the players

1

Manuel

Neuer

Goalkeeper

FC Bayern München