The US Men's National Team (USMNT) is set to face Japan in an international friendly in Columbus, Ohio, with a lineup featuring debut starters Folarin Balogun and Cristian Roldan, and captain Tim Ream tying for ninth on the all-time captaincy list. The match will be broadcast on TNT, Universo, HBO Max, and Peacock, with the US aiming to improve their record against Japan, having previously lost 2-0 in 2022.
Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are set to face off in a preseason friendly in Hong Kong at Kai Tak Sports Park, with the match streaming on Paramount+ at 7:30 am ET. Arsenal, having started their preseason strongly with wins over AC Milan and Newcastle, are favored to win against a Tottenham team still adjusting to new signings and transfers. The predicted result is Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham.
Fans have quickly praised Martin Zubimendi after his debut for Arsenal in a friendly against AC Milan, where he impressed with his passing and movement, and even scored in a penalty shootout. Zubimendi, a recent signing from Real Sociedad, has already made a positive impression on the fans and his new manager, Mikel Arteta, expressing his excitement about working with him and his ambitions to bring balance to the team.
England, under new coach Thomas Tuchel, suffered a 3-1 defeat to Senegal in a friendly match, marking their first loss to African opponents in 21 games. The game highlighted concerns about the aging of key players like Kyle Walker and Jordan Henderson, and raised questions about the future direction of the team, especially with the upcoming World Cup. Tuchel's comments reflected disappointment with the team's performance and the need to move beyond the old guard to foster a more energetic and confident squad.
Lionel Messi has addressed his absence from a friendly match in Hong Kong, explaining that he was unable to play due to inflammation in his adductor. He emphasized his desire to play in every match and clarified that his absence had nothing to do with politics, expressing his close relationship with China. Messi also mentioned his efforts to participate in events and games in China throughout his career. The decision to play Messi for 30 minutes in a subsequent match against Vissel Kobe was agreed upon after a training session, with coach Tata Martino expressing satisfaction with Messi's performance. Inter Miami will kick off their MLS season against Real Salt Lake on Wednesday.
Argentina's planned friendlies in China against Nigeria and Ivory Coast may be relocated due to the fallout from Lionel Messi's absence in a recent match in Hong Kong. The Argentina Football Association is considering alternative venues amid the political climate in China turning against Messi. The Hong Kong government expressed disappointment over Messi's no-show and subsequent participation in a match in Japan, leading to ongoing talks to potentially move the friendlies to different locations.
The U.S. men’s national team suffered a 1-0 loss to Slovenia in their first friendly of 2024, with minimal takeaways due to the roster composition and playing conditions. The team's structural preferences and lack of a defined No. 10 were evident, while 11 players made their senior USMNT debut. DeJuan Jones and Esmir Bajraktarevic impressed, potentially boosting their chances for future tournaments, while Shaq Moore, Tim Tillman, and Brian White may have hurt their cases with underwhelming performances.
The U.S. Women's National Team (USWNT) is set to face China PR in a two-game set of friendlies, with the first match taking place on December 2 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The USWNT, led by new head coach Emma Hayes, aims to close out 2023 on a strong note as they prepare for the upcoming Paris Olympics in 2024. The team boasts a roster of fresh faces and players eager to prove themselves. The USWNT has not lost a game in regulation in 2023 and has a dominant defense, having allowed only two goals this year. The match against China PR marks the first meeting between the two teams since 2018.
The US men's national team (USMNT) bounced back from a defeat against Germany with a dominant 4-0 victory over Ghana in a friendly match. Gio Reyna scored twice, while Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun added one goal each. The attacking quartet of Reyna, Pulisic, Balogun, and Tim Weah, along with right back Sergiño Dest, showcased sharp combinations and efficient finishing. The win demonstrated the team's progress and improvement under coach Gregg Berhalter, with a focus on long-term development.
The U.S. men's national soccer team will face Germany in a friendly match during the October international break. Coach Gregg Berhalter has maintained roster continuity from previous matches, with notable newcomer Lennard Maloney. Germany, under new coach Julian Nagelsmann, is looking to improve after a disappointing run of games, including crashing out of the 2022 World Cup. The match will be televised on TNT and streamed on Peacock.
The U.S. men's national soccer team is set to face Germany in a friendly match, providing a rare opportunity to measure themselves against top-tier competition. With limited windows for training camps and international matches, the USMNT is eager to embrace these moments and strengthen their group ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The team understands the importance of performing well against potential World Cup opponents and aims to win these games to advance the program. As joint hosts of the 2026 World Cup, the United States has an automatic berth, but finding opponents for friendlies will be challenging due to scheduling conflicts. The team's ultimate goal is to apply the lessons learned from these matches to beat European opponents and other esteemed teams in major tournaments.
U.S. men's national team manager Gregg Berhalter has revealed his lineup for the friendly against Uzbekistan, featuring Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun in the attack. The lineup also includes Matt Turner in goal, Sergiño Dest, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, and Antonee Robinson in defense, and Luca de la Torre, Weston McKennie, and Yunus Musah in midfield. Berhalter mentioned that Balogun will only play 45 minutes due to his recent transfer to AS Monaco. The match is the first of two friendlies against Asian opponents, with the second game scheduled against Oman. Berhalter expressed his goal of taking the U.S. to new heights in the 2026 World Cup and emphasized the importance of evolving and improving as a team.
Chelsea's final preseason friendly against Borussia Dortmund ended in a 1-1 draw, with both teams experiencing challenges on the pitch. Chelsea missed several scoring opportunities in the opening minutes, and Christopher Nkunku was forced off with a knee injury. The team's performance became less cohesive afterwards, but Mason Burstow managed to score a late equalizer. Despite the draw, Chelsea maintained their unbeaten preseason record and avoided further injuries.
Chelsea and Newcastle United played to a 1-1 draw in a friendly match, with Chelsea showing promising moments in the first half under manager Pochettino. However, a lapse in concentration led to Newcastle's goal just before halftime. The second half was more disjointed due to numerous substitutions, and neither team was able to create significant scoring opportunities. Chelsea's next match is against Fulham on Sunday in DC.
Arsenal and Barcelona will face off in a friendly match in California, with both teams looking to regain their preseason momentum. Arsenal suffered a loss to Manchester United, while Barcelona had to cancel a match against Juventus due to gastroenteritis. Arsenal's Mikel Arteta, a former Barcelona player, will be hoping to secure a win against his former club. The Gunners have not defeated Barcelona since 2011. Both teams are preparing for upcoming preseason fixtures before the start of their respective leagues. The predicted outcome is a 2-1 victory for Arsenal.
