The World Cup begins in less than two weeks, with the USMNT set to open things up against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium. Before that, though, comes a pair of pre-tournament tuneups as we get our first look at Mauricio Pochettino’s 26-man roster. First up: Senegal at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
Senegal, of course, are no slouch, coming in at No. 14 in the FIFA rankings. You no doubt know some of the names on its roster: Sadio Mane, Idrissa Gueye, and Mamadou Sarr, to name a few. But Pape Thiaw’s squad features some intriguing young talent. One of those players, 18-year-old Paris Saint-Germain winger Ibrahim Mbaye, won’t feature in Sunday’s match after being on the bench during Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final in Budapest.
For the USMNT, their performance on Sunday against Senegal and on June 6 against Germany will go a long way toward setting the tone for what to expect during the World Cup. Pochettino has bristled at calling non-competitive matches like these “friendlies.” While these are friendlies by definition, it’s an opportunity to match up against a fellow World Cup opponent. Can the USMNT pass this test?
We’ll find out together, as kickoff from Charlotte is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET. Here’s our match thread, along with ways to watch and listen:
USMNT Lineup
To be announced.
Senegal Lineup
To be announced.
How to Watch the USMNT vs. Senegal
Venue: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
Kickoff Time: Sunday, May 31st, 3:30 PM ET
Available TV/Streaming: TBS/HBO Max (in English); Telemundo (in Spanish)
Available Radio: Westwood One Sports (in English); Fútbol de Primera (in Spanish)
This thread will be your match thread. We don’t have many rules here. We just ask that you don’t insult each other personally and treat each other with respect. Debates can get heated and that’s fine, but name-calling and petty insults will get you banned. If you see a comment that you feel is out of line, please report it and it will be dealt with.
Every week, Scarves and Spikes brings you original interviews, on-site coverage, live shows/podcasts, and the analysis you won’t find at the bigger national outlets. With 2026 being a World Cup year, Atlanta United facing yet another important transfer window, the U.S. Soccer National Training Center setting up shop in the Atlanta area, and NWSL Atlanta kicking off in 2028, your support helps us do even more.
What you get on Patreon:
- Atlanta United training ground updates
- Discord access — talk Atlanta soccer with the SnS team and other supporters
- Patreon-only mailbags
- Grey Gowder’s analytical deep-dives on roster construction, the academy, ATL UTD 2, and more
Start your free trial
