USMNT reportedly in talks with England over pre-World Cup friendly in buildup to 2026

The USMNT are reportedly planning an ambitious international friendly against England ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to The Athletic. A location for the match has not been set, but the contest would likely take place on the East Coast of the United States in June of 2025, per the report.

There is a caveat with scheduling the match, however. All matches scheduled with teams from Europe by U.S. Soccer will be dependent on results from the UEFA Nations League and UEFA World Cup qualifiers.

The U.S. recently appointed ex-Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino as head coach on a contract to lead them into the 2026 competition. The 2019 UEFA Champions League finalist with Tottenham Hotspur will hope to spark similar momentum with the USMNT, leading them from the touchline in the World Cup.

In conversations with U.S. Soccer, Pochettino has revealed that the USMNT's target is making the quarterfinals of the 2026 competition, with the World Cup to be played in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. and England clashed in the group stage, playing to a 0-0 draw. The last time England played a match against the U.S. on American soil was in 2005.

Pochettino will take the touchline for the first time this October, when the U.S. face Panama and Mexico in a pair of international friendlies. It will be the Argentine's debut as USMNT manager, and will give fans a glimpse of what to expect under his leadership.