The U.S. Men’s National Team is wasting no time in ramping up preparations for the 2026 World Cup. On Monday, U.S. Soccer announced that the USMNT will face Venezuela in a friendly on January 18th in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The match kicks off a crucial year for head coach Mauricio Pochettino and his staff as they look to build a roster capable of making a deep run on home soil.
January Camp Provides Early Auditions
With the match falling outside of a FIFA international window, the U.S. roster is expected to be comprised mainly of MLS players participating in the annual January camp. While some may scoff at a “B team” lineup, the winter gathering has historically served as a proving ground for players looking to break into the full national team picture.
In fact, several key contributors from the USMNT’s respectable showing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar earned their first caps during previous January camps, including:
- Captain Tyler Adams
- Breakout forward Brenden Aaronson
- Defensive stalwarts Walker Zimmerman and Tim Ream
- Starting goalkeeper Matt Turner
With a talented new crop of MLS stars eager to make their mark, the Venezuela friendly offers Pochettino an early opportunity to expand his player pool and evaluate potential pieces for the World Cup puzzle.
A Stiff Test From Venezuela
On paper, Venezuela may seem like a cushy opponent for a tune-up match. But La Vinotinto have proven to be no pushover, as evidenced by their 3-0 thumping of the USMNT the last time these teams met in 2019.
Venezuela currently sit 7th in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table, in position to reach the inter-confederation playoffs under the expanded 48-team format for 2026. They’ve already notched impressive draws against regional heavyweights Brazil and Argentina in the current qualifying cycle.
Venezuela is a team on the rise in South America. They showed well at Copa America last summer and getting a result against them would be a real feather in the cap for this young U.S. group.
An American soccer insider
For Pochettino, the match provides a valuable measuring stick to evaluate his MLS-based players against a rugged, professional opponent. And for the players, it’s a chance to stake their claim for a spot in the 2026 World Cup squad, still 2 1/2 years away from kickoff.
Just The Beginning for USMNT
The Venezuela friendly is expected to be the first of two matches for the U.S. in January, with an additional game against a to-be-determined opponent planned for later in the month. An MLS-heavy roster for those matches doesn’t necessarily mean Pochettino is any closer to determining his final World Cup squad. But it does signal the start of an extended runway for domestic players to prove they belong in the conversation alongside European-based stars like Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie.
As January camp rolls on and the player pool begins to solidify, fans can expect additional friendly tests against increasingly formidable opponents. The long and winding road to the 2026 World Cup starts now for the USMNT, with the Venezuela friendly serving as the first step. While there are still more questions than answers surrounding the final roster, one thing is certain: the battle for spots will be fierce, and the journey will be fascinating to watch unfold.
