The following official matches the US, Mexico and Canada will play are their respective World Cup openers in June, with El Tri kicking off on the Estadio Azteca, the U.S. opening the event in SoFi Stadium and Canada debuting in Toronto.
Earlier than these high-pressure matches, with all three North American groups hoping to have their best-ever World Cup showings as they share internet hosting duties in 2026, all three have a collection of pleasant matches. With few alternatives to fine-tune their squads, what do they should get out of the exhibition contests they’re enjoying within the September window?
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USMNT wants an identification examine
Saturday, Sept. 6 vs. South Korea in Harrison, New Jersey
Tuesday, Sept. 9 vs. Japan in Columbus, Ohio
America should present causes to consider its greatest World Cup exhibiting within the trendy period is inside attain. That has been Mauricio Pochettino’s mandate, in some ways, since he arrived right now final yr. The previous Chelsea, PSG and Tottenham Hotspur supervisor has famous that he hasn’t had a lot time to get to know his group.
That’s why there are 4 uncapped gamers on his 26-player squad and eight extra gamers who’ve a dozen caps or fewer. These gamers typically don’t carry frustration from the final time the U.S. performed pleasant matches in opposition to different groups who will seemingly be on the World Cup. Forward of the Gold Cup, the Individuals fell 2-1 to Türkiye and 4-1 to Switzerland, inflicting appreciable angst and concern earlier than the U.S. put collectively a run to the Gold Cup remaining.
Christian Pulisic, Alex Zendejas and the U.S. males’s nationwide group nonetheless have time to jell forward of the 2026 World Cup.
(John Dorton/ISI Images/USSF by way of Getty Pictures)
The opposite large process? Vibe properly with Christian Pulisic. The AC Milan attacker is the perfect participant the U.S. has, and his relationship with Pochettino definitely was strained by his resolution to ask out of the Gold Cup. Whereas Pochettino mentioned he hadn’t had any motive to talk with Pulisic for the reason that event, the participant was known as, he accepted and it looks like the whole lot is resolved — for now.
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Different relationships appear prone to both flourish rapidly or see gamers left by the wayside till the subsequent cycle begins. Pochettino indicated that is the final time he’ll experiment with new gamers. Gold Cup omissions like Norwich Metropolis ahead Josh Sargent and Membership América winger Alejandro Zendejas will see this as their final alternative to persuade the employees they have to be on the record once they begin crossing names off subsequent month.
Mexico should show progress is actual
Sept. 6 vs. Japan in Oakland, California
Sept. 9 vs. South Korea in Nashville, Tennessee
Mexico faces the identical groups because the U.S. on this window, but it surely does in order the Gold Cup champion. Not solely does it have that continental trophy, because of a 2-1 win over the U.S. in July and the Nations League crown because of a 2-1 victory over Panama in March, it additionally goes into the autumn feeling considerably settled.
It’s virtually an uncomfortable place for Mexico to be in, however the one actual questions concerning the roster appear to be whether or not or not veteran Guillermo Ochoa will earn the nod as a reserve goalkeeper (he’s not on this roster as his membership future stays unsettled) and on the opposite finish of the age spectrum if 16-year-old Gilberto Mora ought to be with the group. He and fellow senior-team prospects Pachuca midfielder Elias Montiel and Seattle Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas are working with the U-20 group this month forward of the U-20 World Cup in Chile.
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However the beginning goalkeeper, each heart backs, the midfield and even the beginning attackers largely decide themselves for supervisor Javier Aguirre.
Hirving Lozano has been a driving pressure for San Diego FC, powering the membership to first place within the MLS Western Convention in its debut season.
(Harry How by way of Getty Pictures)
What should El Tri do that month? It should work out its greatest form. That might begin with reintegrating Hirving Lozano. The San Diego FC winger has confirmed in MLS that he’s nonetheless very near the extent he confirmed when primarily based in Europe, however an damage saved him from becoming a member of the squad this summer time. A spot as a large attacker within the XI could also be on supply if Aguirre opts for enjoying a form with a single ahead. It appears the two-forward look, with the supervisor deploying the “legislation agency” ahead duo of Fulham’s Raul Jimenez and AC Milan’s Santi Gimenez, is one thing he’d do once more solely in sure conditions.
It’s good to have choices, however Mexico would do properly with a “base formation,” even when the best way the group performs out of that setup doesn’t change wildly.
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Canada should hold constructing momentum
Sept. 5 vs. Romania in Bucharest
Sept. 9 vs. Wales in Swansea
Canada is the odd-team out, not solely leaving the continent for a pair of street titles but additionally not having made the Gold Cup remaining. Jesse Marsh’s squad fell to Guatemala in a penalty shootout within the quarterfinal of the continental championship, extending a trophy drought that goes again to the 2000 Gold Cup.
But, there’s nonetheless motive for positivity forward of the European swing, specifically Canadians already excelling on the previous continent. Tajon Buchanan scored a hat trick in La Liga on Aug. 24, pushing Villarreal previous Girona and now has been joined on the japanese Spain membership by countryman Tani Oluwaseyi. He debuted final weekend after transferring from Minnesota United. Star ahead Jonathan David took a step up, transferring from Lille in Ligue 1 to Serie A giants Juventus. He scored within the season opener in opposition to Parma and had one other good exhibiting in Week 2.
What should Canada do? It must see these sturdy performers do it with the nationwide group and likewise must see the again line cowl the shape it confirmed throughout its run to the Copa América semifinals.
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Notably, one other switch mover — heart again Derek Cornelius — went from Marseille to Rangers in the summertime window. He’s within the group for these video games, however defensive companion Moïse Bombito nonetheless isn’t match sufficient to make a return. He ought to be again this fall, however there are larger questions on Bayern Munich famous person Alphonso Davies, who’s recovering from an ACL tear suffered in March and hopes to return to the sphere earlier than the top of the yr. The membership mentioned he began coaching with the ball once more Monday.
These video games will give Canada good competitors and one other style of enjoying away from house — one thing it hopes to do after advancing from the World Cup group stage and out of the 2 rounds of knockout matches that may happen in Canada.