THE BUILDUP IN MOTION — USMNT BACK INTO ACTION
The next chapter starts this fall with the USMNT set to play four matches on home soil between September 26 and October 6, facing two CONMEBOL opponents, Peru and Chile, before renewing two of Concacaf’s most important rivalries against Mexico and Canada.
USMNT FALL 2026 SCHEDULE
| Date | Match | Stadium | City | Kickoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 26 | USA vs. Peru | Inter&Co Stadium | Orlando, Fla. | 4:30 p.m. ET |
| Sept. 29 | USA vs. Chile | Energizer Park | St. Louis, Mo. | 8 p.m. ET |
| Oct. 3 | USA vs. Mexico | State Farm Stadium | Glendale, Ariz. | 10 p.m. ET |
| Oct. 6 | USA vs. Canada | Allianz Field | St. Paul, Minn. | 8 p.m. ET |
The four matches represent much more than the USMNT’s return to competition. They are the first steps on the long road toward the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted primarily by Morocco, Portugal and Spain, with centenary matches staged in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
For Pochettino, the immediate challenge will be taking the momentum and connection created during the 2026 World Cup and transforming it into something sustainable. – “We are so excited to start this new phase of our journey with matches in front of our home fans,” Pochettino said when the schedule was announced. “Their amazing energy during the summer has set the standard.”
The next four years will require Pochettino to evaluate established players, develop emerging talent and create competition throughout the roster. The fall schedule offers an immediate test, with four opponents bringing different styles, histories and challenges.
PERU – SEPTEMBER 26, ORLANDO
First comes Peru.
The USMNT will return to Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando for a Fan Appreciation Match on September 26, kicking off at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Peru narrowly missed qualification for the 2026 World Cup after navigating the demanding CONMEBOL qualifying campaign. Led by experienced Brazilian coach Mano Menezes, La Bicolor presents the United States with a South American opponent capable of testing the team’s ability to control a match technically while handling a disciplined and competitive side. One emerging name to watch is Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s Kenji Cabrera, who made his senior international debut in 2025.
Orlando has also become familiar territory for the Americans. The USMNT enters the unbeaten match at Inter&Co Stadium, carrying a perfect record at the venue.
CHILE – SEPTEMBER 29, ST. LOUIS
Three days later, the USMNT moves to St. Louis to face Chile at Energizer Park.
Kickoff against La Roja is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
Chile brings a proud international history that includes consecutive Copa América championships in 2015 and 2016. The South Americans finished their summer with a 2-1 friendly victory over DR Congo, with FC Midtjylland midfielder Darío Osorio among the players representing the country’s emerging generation.
For the United States, St. Louis provides another strong home setting. The USMNT has won each of its previous matches at Energizer Park, most recently defeating Guatemala there during the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup.
Then the intensity rises.
MEXICO – OCTOBER 3, GLENDALE
No USMNT schedule feels ordinary when Mexico appears on it. The two longtime rivals meet again October 3 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, with kickoff scheduled for 10 p.m. ET.
The match renews one of international soccer’s most recognizable rivalries and gives Pochettino’s developing team an early opportunity to measure itself against the opponent that has historically provided the United States with its greatest regional test.
Mexico emerged from the 2026 World Cup having reached the knockout rounds and moved into the FIFA top 10 afterward. But rankings tell only part of this story.
USA-Mexico carries its own history, emotion and expectations. From World Cup qualifying battles to Gold Cup and Nations League finals and, of course, the famous 2-0 American victory in the Round of 16 at the 2002 World Cup, these matches rarely feel like friendlies.
For players hoping to establish themselves in Pochettino’s next team, Mexico provides exactly the kind of environment in which performances are remembered.
CANADA – OCTOBER 6, ST. PAUL
The fall series concludes three days later against another increasingly significant regional rival. Canada visits Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota, on October 6, with kickoff at 8 p.m. ET.
Canada continued its international progress during the 2026 World Cup, advancing from the group stage before its tournament ended against Morocco in the Round of 16. The Canadians have also become a much more formidable Concacaf opponent in recent years. The USMNT’s most recent meeting with Canada ended in a 2-1 American defeat in the 2025 Concacaf Nations League third-place match. That makes the final game of this four-match stretch another useful measuring point.
THE 2030 BUILD STARTS NOW
The USMNT that takes the field this fall does not have to be the team that takes the field at the 2030 World Cup. In fact, it almost certainly won’t be. Four years provide time for new players to emerge, established players to evolve, young prospects to mature and competition for positions to reshape the roster.
Pochettino now has something he did not have when he took charge of the United States in September 2024: a complete World Cup cycle. His new agreement also expands the potential influence of his staff beyond the senior national team, with U.S. Soccer expecting them to contribute to player pathways, youth development, coaching education and other technical areas. That makes the next four years more than selecting 11 players for the next match.
It is about building. Peru. Chile. Mexico. Canada. – Four opponents. Four different tests. And four early opportunities to discover who wants to be part of what comes next. The buildup to 2030 is officially in motion.
WHERE TO WATCH
The four matches will be televised across TNT Sports platforms, with Spanish-language coverage available through Telemundo/Universo and Peacock depending on the match. Fans should check local listings and U.S. Soccer’s official match information for final broadcast details.
