Germany beat the United States 2-1 in a hotly contested international friendly ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, providing the four-time champions with a strong final test before the tournament begins.
The match, played in Chicago, saw Germany take an early lead through Kai Havertz, who scored in the opening minutes to give the visitors the lead.
The USA responded well and progressed into the match, eventually finding the equalizer thanks to a superb strike from Antonee Robinson just before half-time.
However, Germany regained control in the second half, with Leroy Sané scoring the decisive goal in the 57th minute after a quick attack that exposed the shortcomings of the American defense.
The result confirmed Germany’s good form heading into the World Cup, while the United States showed flashes of attacking quality but struggled to maintain consistency against one of Europe’s most in-form teams.
Both teams used the match as a final opportunity to refine their tactics, test combinations and assess their squad depth ahead of the tournament, where the margins are expected to be extremely tight.
Despite the defeat, the U.S. coaches will take positives from their performance, particularly their ability to respond after conceding early and compete physically against a top opponent.
Germany, meanwhile, will head into the World Cup with confidence after another disciplined and efficient display that showcased their attacking depth and control in key moments.
