Mauricio Pochettino's United States side will host Senegal in Charlotte, North Carolina, in a penultimate warm-up fixture ahead of their 2026 World Cup opener — and the stakes could hardly feel higher for the co-hosts.

Kick-off is scheduled for 3:30pm ET / 8:30pm BST on Sunday, 31 May, with the match available to stream free-to-air on RTS, the Senegalese national broadcaster, and L'Equipe Live Foot in France. UK viewers can watch on Premier Sports 1, while US audiences can access the game via Peacock.

Pochettino under pressure

Pochettino was appointed in August 2024 with a single, defining mission: deliver a strong performance for the United States at a home World Cup. The former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager has had little room for error since, and back-to-back defeats against Belgium and Portugal in March have done nothing to ease the pressure.

With the USA's opening group match against Paraguay now less than two weeks away, Pochettino will lean on key figures such as Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, and Weston McKennie to sharpen the team's edge. A second warm-up against Germany in Chicago follows next weekend before the tournament begins in earnest.

Senegal arrive with point to prove

Head coach Pape Thiaw brings a Senegal squad full of recognisable talent to the United States. Former Liverpool forward Sadio Mané, Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye, and Crystal Palace striker Ismaila Sarr are among those expected to feature as the Teranga Lions build towards a demanding group stage.

Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations campaign earlier this year ended in extraordinary circumstances. The Teranga Lions walked off the pitch during the final against Morocco in protest at a disputed penalty, returned to complete the match, and won 1-0 — only for the title to subsequently be stripped from them and awarded to Morocco. It is a chapter Thiaw will be eager to turn firmly behind him.

After facing the United States, Senegal have one further warm-up against Saudi Arabia before opening their 2026 World Cup campaign against 2022 finalists France — a group that also includes dark horses Norway.

Prediction

Both sides carry genuine quality but also clear vulnerabilities ahead of the tournament. A closely-fought draw — USA 1-1 Senegal — looks the most likely outcome from what should be an entertaining contest in Charlotte.