Pre-tournament friendlies to keep an eye on

 

Most national teams will play once or twice in the lead up to the World Cup. We have highlighted a few friendly fixtures coming up over the next week that are worth keeping an eye on.

Germany vs Finland, Mainz, 31st May

Nagelsmann’s first chance to see Manuel Neuer back in goal and Jamal Musiala in a German shirt since his Club World Cup injury in July 2025. Musiala has played a bit-part role for Bayern in the second half of 2025/26, and Germany have built this squad around his return. Anything close to his 2023 form makes Germany contenders. A cautious thirty minutes off the bench is the more realistic read.

USA vs Senegal, 31st May

The first of Pochettino’s two prep fixtures. Senegal share physical profiles with several of the African and South American sides the USA will meet later in the tournament. Pochettino is testing his 3-4-2-1 against pressure he can’t engineer in MLS-tier opposition.

USA vs Germany, Houston, 6th June

The bigger of the two USA fixtures. Pochettino against Nagelsmann at NRG Stadium, six days before the opener. This is perhaps a more important game for the USA than you’d normally expect for a friendly. There is some concern and negativity surrounding Pochettino and the squad as a whole. A solid performance is needed to create some hope and positivity heading into their home tournament.

England vs New Zealand, 6th June

Tuchel’s “specialist” squad gets its first competitive run-out. New Zealand are a friendly opponent rather than a stress test, so the focus is internal: shape, partnerships, how the players Tuchel did pick fit together. The critics of the Palmer, Foden and Maguire omissions will be watching for any reason to push their case before a ball is kicked at the tournament proper.

Other fixtures to keep an eye on, all played by 2 June

• Mexico vs Australia. The host nation’s preparation continues with Australia, ahead of their opener against South Africa on 11 June.
• Norway vs Sweden. Haaland and Ødegaard against the Scandinavian neighbours. Norway are drawn in France’s Group I, so any glimpse of how they line up matters.
• Brazil vs Panama. Ancelotti’s first competitive look at his reshaped squad. The question everyone is watching: does Neymar play?
• Croatia vs Belgium. The strongest fixture in the window on paper. Croatia’s Modrić-led generation against De Bruyne, Courtois and Lukaku.