For the first time in months, the United States men’s national team looked like a team capable of making noise at the World Cup.
The USMNT defeated Senegal 3-2 in Charlotte on Sunday in one of its final warmup matches before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and while it wasn’t a perfect performance, it was exactly what American fans wanted to see. Against one of Africa’s strongest teams, the United States showed attacking quality, resilience, and most importantly, confidence.
Christian Pulisic was the star of the afternoon.
The American captain ended a lengthy scoring drought by finding the back of the net and also added an assist. It was his first international goal since November 2024 and a reminder of how important he is to everything the United States wants to accomplish this summer. Pulisic looked dangerous throughout the match and finally appeared to be playing with the freedom and swagger fans have been waiting to see.
The Americans got off to a dream start when Sergiño Dest opened the scoring early. Pulisic doubled the advantage before halftime, giving the United States a 2-0 lead against a Senegal squad featuring world-class talent such as Sadio Mané.
Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
Mané reminded everyone why he remains one of the world’s most dangerous attackers by scoring twice for Senegal. Defensive mistakes allowed the African giants back into the match, exposing some of the concerns that still exist for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. The United States has plenty of attacking talent, but defensive consistency remains one of the biggest question marks heading into the World Cup.
Fortunately for the Americans, Folarin Balogun delivered the decisive moment.
The striker finished off a Tim Weah cross in the second half to restore the lead and ultimately secure the victory. Balogun’s goal showcased exactly why he is expected to be a key piece of the U.S. attack during the tournament.
What may be most encouraging is how different the team looked compared to its disappointing performances earlier this spring. The attack was more fluid. The midfield created chances. Players appeared more comfortable in Pochettino’s system. While there are still issues to clean up, this looked much closer to the version of the USMNT that fans hoped would emerge before a home World Cup.
No one should be declaring the United States a World Cup contender after one friendly. Germany awaits in another difficult warmup, and the real tests begin when the tournament kicks off. But beating Senegal is the type of result that can build belief inside a locker room.
After months of criticism and uncertainty, the USMNT finally gave supporters a reason to feel optimistic.
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