In a closely contested friendly match at Chicago’s Soldier Field, Germany emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over the United States, continuing their impressive nine-game winning streak as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup. The match, attended by a sellout crowd of 63,636, highlighted the competitive spirit of both teams.

Match Highlights

Kai Havertz opened the scoring for Germany with a header from a free kick in the second minute, showcasing his prowess in front of the goal. The United States responded in the 37th minute when Antonee Robinson equalized with a left-foot volley, following a well-placed corner kick by Christian Pulisic.

The decisive moment came in the 57th minute when Leroy Sané scored the tiebreaking goal. Sané’s diagonal shot, assisted by a short pass from Havertz, found its way past U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese, securing the win for Germany. Despite a valiant effort, the United States was unable to break their losing streak against European teams, which dates back to 2022.

World Cup Preparations

As the United States prepares to host the World Cup for the first time since 1994, they face a challenging group stage, opening against Paraguay and later facing Australia and Turkey. The team is without top defender Chris Richards, who is recovering from an ankle injury.

Germany, ranked 10th globally, begins their World Cup campaign against Curaçao, with Ivory Coast and Ecuador also in their group. Despite missing key players like 18-year-old midfielder Lennart Karl, Germany remains a formidable force.

The match at Soldier Field, a historic site for U.S. soccer, underscores the excitement and anticipation surrounding the World Cup. While Chicago opted not to host 2026 World Cup matches due to financial concerns, the city’s passion for soccer remains evident.

Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.