McKennie, Defense Under Scrutiny as USA Faces Germany Before World Cup
The United States men's national team faces Germany in its final preparatory friendly before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with head coach Mauricio Pochettino expected to deploy his likely starting group for an extended run of minutes as the Americans finalize their tournament readiness. The U.S. opens Group A play against Paraguay on June 12.
The matchup against Germany presents a sharply different challenge from the previous friendly against Senegal, in which the U.S. operated with high possession and a compact defensive shape. Germany carries the attacking depth of Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, and Joshua Kimmich, but the player drawing the most concern along the American defensive line is Leroy Sané - a left-footed winger who operates predominantly from the right flank. His ability to cut inside or drive toward the touchline will test the left-sided pairing of Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson. When Robinson pushes forward and Germany wins the ball in transition, Sané is capable of isolating Ream in open space - a scenario that caused difficulty in the Senegal friendly, where Ream produced uncharacteristic turnovers in the opening 20 minutes that led to dangerous opportunities. Germany does not carry a prominent target striker, which reduces one area of defensive exposure the U.S. is expected to face deeper into the tournament.
In midfield, Weston McKennie is projected to start alongside Tyler Adams. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the two operated in concert with Yunus Musah - a structure in which Adams anchored centrally while McKennie and Musah pressed wide across the full width of the pitch. Against Germany, the question is whether McKennie can sustain effectiveness on both sides of the ball, providing attacking output while also tracking back reliably against a side capable of transitioning quickly. McKennie captained the second half against Senegal after Pochettino made 10 substitutions at halftime, and he showed composure and defensive discipline in that role. With the starting XI expected to play between 60 and 70 minutes against Germany, his workload and influence over the game's tempo will be closely watched. Midfielder Alex Freeman, who featured in the Senegal match, is also expected to see time wide, where he could face additional one-on-one situations.
The tactical structure Pochettino selects will carry direct implications for how the U.S. manages the group stage and potential knockout opponents. The Americans' World Cup group also includes Australia and Türkiye. Pochettino deployed three center backs against Senegal, and how that shape functions in a low block - potentially a 5-4-1 - against a possession-oriented side will be central to the analysis of this friendly. Defender Chris Richards, whose fitness has been a question, could add a different physical dimension to the backline if available. The coaching staff and players face a balance: pressing aggressively, as they did in the opening minutes against Senegal, while managing the risk that Germany's transition speed creates in the spaces left behind. How cleanly the U.S. resolves that tension before June 12 is the most consequential question the Germany match is positioned to answer.
