United States v Uruguay: Line-ups, stats and preview
United States face Uruguay in their final game of 2025 in a stern test of the 2026 World Cup hosts' credentials. Read our preview here.
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Match Preview
United States will aim to maintain their recent strong form when they test themselves against Uruguay in a friendly in Florida.
The game will put USA coach Mauricio Pochettino against the coach who successfully recruited him to play for Newell’s Old Boys as a 13-year-old, with Marcelo Bielsa in charge of Uruguay.
United States have put together a strong run of results since their 2-0 defeat to South Korea in September, claiming three wins over sides who will also be at the 2026 World Cup finals by beating Japan, Australia and Paraguay while also drawing with Ecuador.
Uruguay have lost twice in 2025 and are unbeaten in six games since a defeat to Paraguay in June.
They have conceded just one goal in that run, and held Mexico to a goalless draw on Saturday, with Uruguay likely to provide the kind of test Pochettino is keen for his side to undergo as they prepare to host next year’s World Cup.
Goals from Gio Reyna and Folarin Balogun gave United States a 2-1 win over Paraguay on Saturday in a game that ended in a fracas between the two sides after an altercation between Alex Freeman and Paraguay captain Gustavo Gómez spilled over.
“We needed this type of game and the next one is going to be the same, it’s going to be competitive,” Pochettino said afterwards. “These are not ‘friendly’ games. That is important.
“Paraguay is very competitive and difficult to beat. Big credit [to the players], but this is not enough. We are happy, but we need to keep going. We need to improve, improve, improve to arrive at the World Cup.”
United States v Uruguay team news
The USA are missing a host of high-profile players due to injury.
Christian Pulisic, Tim Weah, Chris Richards, Malik Tillman, Tyler Adams and Antonee Robinson are all missing for Pochettino.
For Uruguay, Fede Valverde, Darwin Nunez, Sergio Rochet, Franco Israel, Nicolas de la Cruz and Cristian Olivera are all missing with injury problems.
United States v Uruguay predicted line-ups
United States: Freese; M. Robinson, Ream, Trusty; Dest, Morris, Tessmann, Arfsten; Aaronson, Balogun, Reyna
Uruguay: Mele; Varela, Gimenez, Araujo, Piquerez; Bentancur, Ugarte, De Arrascaeta; Torres, Aguirre, Pellistri
Stats for United States v Uruguay
- United States and Uruguay have met nine times, with the USA winning twice and Uruguay prevailing three times
- The USA’s last win over Uruguay came in a friendly in 2002.
- The most recent meeting came in July, 2024 in the Copa America. Uruguay claimed a 1-0 win to knock USA out.
Prediction for United States v Uruguay
United States
Uruguay
Uruguay will be expected to prevail, but their absences level the playing field somewhat. A draw seems the most likely outcome.
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