US takes on Senegal in Charlotte for World Cup warmup 

CONCACAF

The United States Men's National Team will make its second appearance at Bank of America Stadium on May 31, 2026, when they take on Senegal.

The FIFA World Cup warmup tour for the U.S. national team includes an African powerhouse.

Senegal will take on the U.S. May 31 at Bank of America Stadium in the third of four pretournament friendlies. Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.

The first two exhibitions are in Atlanta against Belgium on March 28, followed by Portugal three days later at Mercedes Benz Stadium. After the match against Senegal, the U.S. will take on Germany in a June 6 tuneup at Chicago’s Soldier Field. 

Each match is against a team that qualified for the World Cup.

“In the year leading up to the World Cup, we will have played at least one team from five different confederations which is incredibly valuable for our preparations,” USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino said in a statement. “We are looking forward to an amazing crowd in Charlotte.”

Senegal went unbeaten in CAF World Cup Qualifying, amassing seven wins while allowing just three goals during 10 matches. Led by 2019 African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mané, Senegal won its first international trophy in 2021 by beating Egypt to win the African Cup of Nations.

Senegal, which is making its third straight World Cup, and the U.S. have never played each other in international competition. Ranked 19th in the world, Senegal was drawn into Group I along with France, Norway and the winner of FIFA Playoff 2. In the opening match of the 2002 World Cup, the Teranga Lions beat previous World Cup winner France to become the second African team to reach the quarterfinals. 

Senegal forward Sadio Mané, who plays for Al-Nassr, is the most capped player and top scorer in the country’s history with 117 appearances and 50 goals. 
The Senegal match is the second for the U.S. national team in Charlotte. In 2023, a first-half hat trick from Jesús Ferreira powered a 6-0 win against Trinidad and Tobago in the final match of Concacaf Gold Cup group play in front of 40,243 fans. 

Overall, the USMNT is 5-1-2 in North Carolina. 

Charlotte FC defender Tim Ream has earned 79 caps for the U.S. since 2011 and has captained the team 25 times, good for eighth all-time.

The U.S. was drawn into Group D along with Paraguay, Australia and the winner of UEFA Playoff C between Kosovo, Romania, Slovakia and Türkiye – at the World Cup Final Draw. The U.S. has wins in 2025 against qualifiers Australia and Paraguay.

Appearing in its 12th World Cup and second time as a host nation, the USMNT opens group play against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles. The second group stage match will take place on June 19 in Seattle against Australia and will close in Los Angeles on June 25 against the UEFA Playoff C winner.

The USA, one of three host countries for the tournament, qualified for its ninth World Cup since 1990 and unbeaten in its last five matches, with four wins against teams that were already qualified for the 2026 tournament.

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