The United States men’s national soccer team will compete against two-time World Cup champions Uruguay in their last game for 2025, confirmed by various sources.
The friendly match, the second exhibition the U.S. will partake in during FIFA’s November international window, is scheduled for November 18 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, which has a capacity of 75,000 and is home to the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The identity of the U.S. Men’s National Team’s first opponent that month will be announced soon. This opponent is expected to be from the CONMEBOL region, which includes the leading ten South American nations.
After November, U.S. Coach Mauricio Pochettino will only have two more friendly matches in March to finalize the 26-player roster for the 2026 World Cup that will be co-hosted next summer by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Discussions were held by the U.S. Soccer Federation about hosting the five-time world champions Brazil in November, but unfortunately, an agreement could not be made in time.
Uruguay currently holds the fourth position in CONMEBOL qualifying, trailing three teams already qualified for the World Cup – Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador. The team will face Peru next and then Chile on September 9.
The U.S. will hold two friendly matches this month against Korea Republic in Harrison, New Jersey, and Japan next week in Columbus, Ohio.
Uruguay, which secured the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1930 and again in 1950, is now rated 16th globally, a place behind the 15th ranked U.S. Men’s National Team.
These two teams last met last year, resulting in a 1-0 win for Uruguay in Kansas City during the 2024 Copa América, marking the U.S. as the first host in tournament history to be eliminated before the knockout rounds. Following this, U.S. Soccer parted ways with Gregg Berhalter, appointing Pochettino the following September.
In their last meeting prior to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the U.S. and Uruguay ended in a goalless draw. Historically, Uruguay leads the series with three wins, two losses, and four draws since their initial match over a century ago, with the last U.S. victory occurring in 2002.
The Uruguayan side proudly features numerous world-class players, including Barcelona’s defender Ronald Araujo and Real Madrid’s midfielder Federico Valverde. The team is helmed by renowned Argentine manager Marcelo Bielsa, who once recruited Pochettino to Newell’s Old Boys, his first professional club.
Pochettino’s team will also face Ecuador on October 10 in Austin, Texas, before clashing with Australia on October 14 in Commerce City, Colorado.
