The United States men's national soccer team hosted Senegal for a pre-World Cup friendly match on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina [1, 2]. This match served as one of the final tune-ups for both teams ahead of the summer's World Cup.
US coach Mauricio Pochettino, originally from Somalia, deployed a 3-4-3 formation. The lineup featured Matt Freese as goalkeeper and defenders Auston Trusty, Tim Ream, and Mark McKenzie. Midfielders included Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, and Sergiño Dest. Up front, the US started Tim Weah, Folarin Balogun, and Christian Pulisic [2].
Senegal's starting goalkeeper was Mory Diaw, with notable attackers including Iliman Ndiaye, Nicolas Jackson, and former Liverpool star Sadio Mané. Édouard Mendy was not on the substitutes list. Senegal's roster was regarded as one of Africa's most talented, comprising players from top European clubs such as Chelsea, Everton, and Villarreal [1, 2].
Each team was permitted up to 11 substitutions, limited to three substitution windows plus halftime changes, allowing coaches flexibility to test lineups and manage player fitness [1].
The pitch was notable for having natural grass laid over the stadium's usual artificial turf just a week before the game. Some Senegal players expressed concerns about the ball bounce on the temporary surface [1].
Tickets were sold at face value and resold shortly before kickoff between $38.65 and $68 on platforms like SeatGeek and Ticketmaster [1, 2]. A strong home crowd presence saw US fans significantly outnumber Senegal supporters, generating an energized atmosphere inside the stadium [1].
Coverage previewing the match, including lineups and TV info, was published on May 30 by Forbes [2]. The game itself played out the next day, marking a key moment as both teams finalized their preparations for the upcoming World Cup [1].
