Germany Give USMNT a Final Reality Check With 2-1 Win at Soldier Field
Germany beat the United States 2-1 in front of a sellout Chicago crowd in their last warm-up, with Antonee Robinson's stunning volley not enough to deny goals from Kai Havertz and Leroy Sané.
Topline
- Germany beat the USMNT 2-1 in their final pre-World Cup friendly in Chicago.
- Havertz and Sané scored either side of Antonee Robinson's 23-yard volley.
- The U.S. were without injured centre-back Chris Richards.
- A sellout 63,636 crowd attended at Soldier Field, site of the 1994 opener.
Full Report
World Cup DeskThe United States suffered a sobering final tune-up before their home World Cup, losing **2-1 to Germany** at Soldier Field in Chicago as Mauricio Pochettino's side were given a stern reminder of the gap to the world's elite.
Havertz and Sané Settle It
Kai Havertz
headed Germany in front inside the opening two minutes, silencing the sellout crowd of 63,636. **Antonee Robinson** hauled the hosts level before the break with a stunning 23-yard volley that flew past Oliver Baumann, but **Leroy Sané** restored the visitors' advantage just before the hour mark to seal the win.
Key Absences on Both Sides
The U.S. were without first-choice centre-back **Chris Richards**, who has been sidelined since tearing ankle ligaments on May 17. Germany were missing teenager **Lennart Karl**, ruled out of the World Cup entirely after a thigh injury in training. The match took place at the venue that hosted the 1994 World Cup opener, adding a historical resonance to the occasion.
The Bigger Picture
For Pochettino, the defeat exposes lingering defensive frailties days before the U.S. open the tournament. The performance offered encouragement in flashes — Robinson's strike chief among them — but Germany's clinical edge underlined how much sharper the hosts must be to make a deep run on home soil.
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