Germany arrived at the 2026 World Cup with nine consecutive victories to their name after edging the United States 2-1 at a sold-out Soldier Field on Saturday, though the scoreline flattered the four-time champions against a home side that will take genuine encouragement from large stretches of the performance.
Kai Havertz put Germany ahead within two minutes, nodding home from Joshua Kimmich’s free-kick delivery to repeat the kind of early impact he had made in the Champions League final. The opener was against the run of what followed. The United States absorbed the initial pressure, grew steadily into the match and were the more threatening side for long periods, only for clinical German finishing to prove the difference.
Antonee Robinson levelled in the 37th minute with a stunning left-foot volley from the edge of the box after Jonathan Tah’s headed clearance from Christian Pulisic’s corner fell kindly into his path. Robinson celebrated with a cartwheel and a backflip, and the crowd of 63,636 at Soldier Field roared the hosts forward. Pulisic forced a brilliant double save from Oliver Baumann shortly after, and Sergino Dest also went close, with the USA looking the more likely side to score a second.
Germany, however, struck against the run of play in the 57th minute. Havertz slipped a short pass to Leroy Sane, who drilled a diagonal shot through Miles Robinson’s legs and into the far corner to restore the lead. There was a suspicion of a deflection off the defender, but the goal stood and Germany held on from there despite further pressure from the hosts.
Joe Scally tested Baumann with a strike from range that the goalkeeper tipped wide, before Brenden Aaronson’s late effort met the same fate. The United States could not find a second goal and Germany ran down the clock to claim a victory their overall performance perhaps did not fully merit.
Germany were without the injured Lennart Karl, the 18-year-old who had impressed so much against Finland before being ruled out of the tournament with a thigh problem. Manuel Neuer also sat out as a precaution while managing a calf issue, with Baumann deputising in goal and performing well throughout. The United States were similarly missing Chris Richards, sidelined since tearing ankle ligaments on 17 May.
For Julian Nagelsmann, the winning streak and the result are what matter ahead of a tournament Germany approach with real ambition after successive group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022. For Mauricio Pochettino, the manner of the performance against one of Europe’s elite will offer considerably more than the scoreline suggests. The co-hosts have lost nine consecutive matches against European opposition since 2022, but on this evidence, with home support behind them and a settled system under Pochettino, they will be a difficult proposition for Paraguay, Australia and Turkey in Group D.
The match was played at Soldier Field, the venue that hosted the opening game of the 1994 World Cup. Chicago had declined to bid for matches in 2026, citing concerns over financial assurances from FIFA, giving Saturday’s fixture an added layer of significance for a city that retains deep connections to the tournament’s history in the United States.
Germany open their Group E campaign against Curacao on 14 June, with Ivory Coast and Ecuador to follow.
