World Cup 2026: USA 1-2 Germany – report, result, goals as Sane and Havertz score either side of spectacular Antonee Robinson strike in friendly

Leroy Sane’s 17th international goal gave Germany victory against the USA as both nations played their final matches before their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaigns with an entertaining friendly at Chicago’s Soldier Field.

Arsenal forward Kai Havertz headed Germany in front after two minutes to defy a festive atmosphere for the tournament co-hosts, but Fulham defender Antonee Robinson ensured the pre-match hype was justified with a magnificent equaliser eight minutes before the break, volleying in from outside the box following a corner.

A breathtaking Antonee Robinson goal followed by an equally spectacular celebration! 🤯🤯🤯

A sensational outside-the-box volley from the @FulhamFC man brings the USA level against Germany 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/HNM5GM2KLp

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) June 6, 2026

Former Bayern Munich and Manchester City winger Sane’s clinical finish settled the contest 12 minutes after half-time, although Joe Scally and Brenden Aaronson both forced fine saves from Oliver Baumann with long-ragne efforts during the closing stages.

Several players from either side confronted each other during added time when USA wideman Timothy Weah used reckless-looking force in a sliding tackle on David Raum, receiving a yellow card after his head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, had entered the pitch to become involved in the altercation.

Germany score within two minutes! 🤯@Arsenal's Kai Havertz heads in from a Joshua Kimmich delivery 🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/wwIBrQdA81

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) June 6, 2026

USA vs Germany Analysis: Encouraging signs for co-hosts

In a spectacular pre-match build-up, the USA squad announcements were made with the ceremony of a championship wrestling match before a singer bellowed out their anthem for a game billed as a public send-off for the team.

The extravagant theatricality seemed to exclusively inspire Germany, who went ahead when Joshua Kimmich whipped a free-kick from the right in front of goal, where Havertz was unmarked to head in his second goal in seven days following his strike after six minutes of Arsenal’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final last Saturday.

Germany continued to dominate the early stages but two USA corners in quick succession gave Mauricio Pochettino’s side momentum and Robinson’s piledriver, which grazed the crossbar on its way in, was magical but not against the run of play.

The USA matched the four-time world champions for much of the rest of the match, although they allowed Galatasaray winger Sane too much space to collect Havertz’s pass and find the far corner of the net with a low drive from inside the box on the right for the winner.

USMNT need Chris Richards at World Cup 2026

Injured Crystal Palace defender Chris Richards was seen smiling on the sideline but some of his team-mates’ work offered a demonstration of their shortfalls without his expertise at the back.

Richards injured ankle ligaments while playing against Brentford on May 17 and remained an unused substitute in his club’s Conference League final win over Rayo Vallecano 10 days later.

Pochettino is hopeful Richards will be ready in six days’ time but the former Tottenham manager’s concerns will have been compounded by Robinson hobbling off during the second half, receiving treatment on the bench.

What’s next? USA, Germany World Cup schedule, fixtures

Here’s how the USA and Germany’s opening fixtures at the finals look. Asterisk denotes match starting the following day.

World Cup 2026 friendly: USA team vs Germany

The USA made five changes from that win over Senegal, bringing in Sergino Dest, Tyler Adams, Miles Robinson, Tim Ream and Folarin Balogun.

Leeds United midfielder Aaronson is joined by Bournemouth midfielder Adams, Richards, Antonee Robinson and Coventry City forward Haji Wright among the USA’s Premier League contingent.

Adams missed 10 matches for the Cherries with a knee injury between December and February and four combined for club and country with a hamstring problem between March and April but started this time.

Sebastian Berhalter, Celtic’s Auston Trusty and Timothy Weah moved to the bench.

USA starting XI: Matt Freese, Sergino Dest, Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Miles Robinson, Tim Ream, Alex Freeman, Malik Tillman, Folarin Balogun

USMNT substitutes: Matt Turner, Brenden Aaronson, Max Arfsten, Sebastian Berhalter, Chris Brady, Mark McKenzie, Ricardo Pepi, Giovanni Reyna, Cristian Roldan, Joe Scally, Auston Trusty, Timothy Weah, Haji Wright, Alex Zendejas,

World Cup 2026 warm-up: Germany full line up vs USMNT

Germany made two alterations from their 4-0 win over Finland in a friendly in Mainz on May 31, bringing in Harvertz and Sane for Lennart Karl – who is out of the finals with a thigh injury suffered in training – and Deniz Undav, who moved to the bench.

Havertz, Brighton & Hove Albion playmaker Pascal Gross and Liverpool counterpart Florian Wirtz make up three of the Premier League players in their squad, joined by Newcastle defender Malick Thiaw and forward Nick Woltemade.

Havertz’s involvement in the Champions League final and parade of the Premier League trophy alongside his Gunners teammates in London the following day meant he was the last player to join Germany’s squad in the US, but the 26-year-old and Wirtz were among the starters.

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has come out of international retirement at the age of 40 and will be Germany’s number one for the tournament, head coach Julian Nagelsmann has said.

Germany starting XI: Oliver Baumann, Kai Havertz, Nathaniel Brown, Jonathan Tah, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Nico Schlotterbeck, Felix Nmecha, Joshua Kimmich, Florian Wirtz

Germany substitutes: Nadiem Amiri, Waldemar Anton, Maximilian Beier, Leon Goretzka, Pascal Gross, Jamie Leweling, Alexander Nubel, David Raum, Antonio Rudiger, Angelo Stiller, Malick Thiaw, Deniz Undav, Jonas Urbig, Nick Woltemade