Senegal confirmed to meet the United States in Charlotte as World Cup preparations intensify

Senegal will meet the United States in an international friendly on 31 May 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina, as part of their build-up to the 2026 World Cup.

The fixture will be played at the Bank of America Stadium, giving Pape Thiaw’s squad a high-profile test only days before the tournament begins.

The match forms part of a wider preparation plan for the Lions of Teranga, who are set for a demanding World Cup campaign.

Drawn in Group I, Senegal will face France, Norway and the winner of a playoff between Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq.

With such a competitive group awaiting them, the Senegalese staff are planning a series of additional warm-up fixtures beyond their scheduled matches in March.

According to the Senegalese Football Federation, the meeting with the United States is one of several encounters being finalised to ensure the team reach peak form.

The Americans, meanwhile, have lined up a challenging set of preparations, with matches scheduled against Belgium, Portugal and Germany as they attempt to measure themselves against Europe’s elite.

Le Sénégal affrontera les États-Unis dans un match amical international de préparation à la Coupe du monde 2026. Cette rencontre aura lieu le 31 mai 2026 au Bank of America Stadium à Charlotte (Caroline du Nord), quelques jours avant le coup d’envoi du Mondial. #FriendlyGame pic.twitter.com/DDNXt4W3mo

— Equipe du Sénégal (@GaindeYi) December 11, 2025

The Charlotte fixture offers both teams a valuable opportunity to refine tactics and assess key players ahead of the global tournament.

For Senegal, it is also a chance to gauge their readiness against a physically strong and fast-paced American side that will be competing on home soil during the World Cup.

With expectations rising around Thiaw’s group, the friendly is expected to provide early insight into squad coherence and strategic choices as Senegal prepare for what could be one of their most demanding World Cup outings yet.