USMNT Falls to Germany Badly in Sendoff Match

By Daniel Feuerstein | Chicago, IL | June 6th, 2026

The U.S. Men’s National Team was finishing up their international week with a final friendly against European powerhouse Germany at Soldier Field in downtown Chicago. It was a sold-out match to see the USA have a strong match and to have positive feelings as they get ready for their World Cup journey on the West Coast. Unfortunately, there were more questions than answers as they fell to the Germans by a final score of two goals to one and are limping off to SoFi Stadium with a possible injury to one of their defenders.

The first goal of the match went to the visitors as they suffered a foul and were given a free kick. Placed along the near side and about five to seven yards away from the area. The ball was delivered from Joshua Kimmich with pinpoint accuracy, delivered towards a running Kai Havertz as he lowered his head and redirected it past Matt Freese and into the net in the 2nd minute. FC Cincinnati central defender Miles Robinson missed his marker and allowed Havertz to blow by him to get onside and defeat Freese with ease.

Throughout the match, Germany scored multiple goals against the USA, but they were removed by the near-side assistant’s offside flag. They should’ve had multiple goals, and the U.S. Men’s National Team should’ve been embarrassed by their performance in this match. Because of the offside calls, they were lucky not to get run off the pitch in disgrace. But they did have a fabulous moment to level the match in the opening half, and it was fantastic.

The USA earned a corner along the far side, and Christian Pulisic took it. He delivered the ball inside the German area, then a defender headed the ball towards the top of the area. Coming out of nowhere was Antonee Robinson, and he delivered a sensational volley that blasted the ball to the upper portion of the net, took a slight deflection under the crossbar, and smashed it against the back of the net in the 37th minute. It was one of the best goals that has been scored in a very long time for the USMNT.

As soon as the second half started, the USA were once again in trouble and allowed another early goal. Germany had the ball and was waiting their turn to expose the USA. The amount of space that was given to the Germans showed how calculating they were and how they found a way to pass the ball around. Havertz laid it off to Leroy Sane, and when he took the shot towards the back post, the shot was deflected off of Miles Robinson, and another goal goes against the hosts in the 57th minute.

While the USMNT did make several attempts to get a second goal, none were coming as Germany put the clamps on and prevented the boys from getting a second. There was some frustration from the players, especially Tim Weah, when he delivered a harsh tackle against David Rahm during second-half stoppage time, after Max Beier should’ve been booked a few minutes earlier after his hard foul on Joe Scally and on Weah himself. If that challenge was during the World Cup, Weah would’ve been sent off, and he is serving a one-match suspension.

While some would tell you this side is ready to go and will have a positive World Cup, that performance will support others that this USA team can get grouped and eliminate the U.S. Men’s National Team early. While Matt Freese played well in net and wasn’t at fault for those two goals, there are questions about what these players will do when they face Paraguay. Now with Antonee Robinson coming off the pitch due to a hamstring issue, there is hope it’s not a serious injury, and he can return for the opening match on Friday, June 12th, at SoFi Stadium.

Not the way you want a result like that to send you off to the World Cup, but the U.S. Men’s National Team is going to prepare for the big tournament and hope to get out of Group D and make a run into the knockout stage. The lineups and the tactics are now on the shoulders of head coach Mauricio Pochettino, and the performance is on the players to get the necessary results to get through their first three matches.

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