- USMNT finalizing البرتغال friendly for March 2026
- Would be Cristiano رونالدو‘s first appearance in U.S. since 2014
- Belgium also considered for second fixture of the break
The USMNT are reportedly in advanced talks to secure a high-profile friendly with Portugal next March, according to فوكس سبورتس. Atlanta will be the host city for the proposed friendly, which is still subject to final confirmation. Mauricio Pochettino’s side are also in the process of confirming a friendly with Belgium during the window, which is the last one before 26-man كأس العالم squads are released.
The match would be Cristiano Ronaldo’s first appearance in the متحد States since 2014, when he featured in a friendly between ريال مدريد و مانشستر يونايتد in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His most recent meeting with the USMNT also came that summer at the World Cup, where he famously set up Silvestre Varela’s stoppage-time equalizer to deny the Americans a victory in the group stage.
Earlier reports had suggested the U.S. were seeking an NFL-sized venue, with Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium ultimately selected as the site – pending official confirmation.
If finalized, the friendly would add to an already demanding run of fixtures for Pochettino’s side as it prepares for a World Cup on home soil. The federation has booked November meetings with Paraguay and Uruguay, while potential showdowns with Portugal and Belgium – both top-10 teams in FIFA’s rankings – would further raise the stakes.
Atlanta hasn’t been a kind venue for the U.S. of late. The most recent fixture at “The Benz” was a high profile Copa America loss to Panama, when the U.S. fell 2-1 in a game that all-but confirmed a group stage exit from the tournament.
The U.S. are back in action Tuesday night, when they face اليابان in Columbus, Ohio. Their most recent fixture was a 2-0 loss to كوريا الجنوبية at Sports Illustrated Arena.
