HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT — The United States will test themselves against one of Europe’s best as they host Germany at Rentschler Field on Saturday.
Germany, who are free for this friendly thanks to their omission from Euro qualifying as hosts of the 2024 tournament, have been eliminated in the group stage of two consecutive World Cups. The latest failure brought about the end of Hansi Flick’s tenure, and his replacement Julian Nagelsmann will make his debut as coach in this match.
For the hosts, it marks the return of Gio Reyna after his injury this summer, and the young Borussia Dortmund playmaker will play under Berhalter for the first time since their falling out at the 2022 World Cup.
With both teams preparing for hosting duties of major tournaments in the coming years – the US will host the 2026 World Cup – this is an important opportunity for both sides to test themselves against challenging opposition.
MORE: A breakdown of the full USMNT squad for October friendlies vs Germany and Ghana
The Sporting News is LIVE from Rentschler Field, following the USA vs. Germany match as it happens, providing score updates, commentary and highlights throughout the game as well as prematch lead-up and postgame coverage.
USA vs Germany live score
| Score | Goal scorers | |
| USA | — | — |
| Germany | — | — |
Kickoff: 3:07 p.m. ET / 12:07 p.m. PT
Location: Rentschler Field (Hartford, CT)
Referee: TBD
Predicted lineups:
USA (4-3-3, right to left): Turner (GK) — Scally, Carter-Vickers, Richards, Dest — Musah, De la Torre, McKennie — Weah, Balogun, Pulisic.
Germany (4-2-3-1, right to left): Ter Stegen (GK) — Kimmich, Rudiger, Sule, Raum — Gundogan, Goretzka — Sane, Musiala, Brandt — Fullkrug.
USA vs Germany live updates, highlights, commentary
1 hour 45 mins to kick: The U.S. has always been big on squad unity under Gregg Berhalter, but the added chemistry that comes with having international teammates also playing together at big clubs has been palpable. Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah are thriving at AC Milan, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah have carved out important utility roles at Juventus, and a trio of guys are proving worthy of more minutes at PSV. Add all that to the two Fulham guys Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson who have been together for some time, and it’s been valuable to the U.S. squad.
YUNUS MUSAH 🤝 CHRISTIAN PULISIC
A USMNT LINK-UP TO GIVE MILAN THE LEAD. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/U3ACK7aSvk
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 7, 2023
2 hours to kickoff: The Rentschler Field pitch has some pretty ugly patches on it that appear to have come from the transition between UConn football and USA soccer. By far the worst spots are where the college football sidelines were, and the six-yard boxes are a bit torn up too. It’s not the greatest look.
Theres some real nasty spots on the Rentschler Field pitch. The transition from UConn football to soccer pitch does not seem to have gone terribly smoothly 🤔
The college football sidelines appear to be the worst.#USMNT pic.twitter.com/fVOqvE9Al1
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) October 14, 2023
2 hours 15 mins to kick: Josh Kimmich, one of the most important players in the Germany squad, missed training yesterday due to a “light cold,” so it will be interesting to see whether that illness keeps him from playing, or starting, today.
German media reporting that Josh Kimmich did not train today ahead of the #USMNT match.
Word is he has a “light cold.” This is their final training session before tomorrow’s game. https://t.co/S36ffazRmn
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) October 13, 2023
2 hours 30 mins to kickoff: The U.S. will wear their blue kits today. It seems like that means Germany will wear their whites with the big black stripe.
Blue in New England. 🔵#USMNT x @att pic.twitter.com/JDiv1I6ALI
— U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (@USMNT) October 14, 2023
2 hours 45 mins to kick: Gio Reyna will return today after missing months with a leg fracture suffered during this summer’s CONCACAF Nations League.
Gregg Berhalter would not commit to Reyna in a starting role, but it definitely sounds like he will play significant minutes, either starting and then being withdrawn at halftime like Folarin Balogun was in September before his move to AS Monaco, or coming on at halftime for the second 45.
Berhalter on #USMNT midfield options: “Whether Gio plays in CM, in 4-3-3, at ACM, a lot of things to consider. It’ll be interesting over 3 years to see how roles develop.”
Mentions other midfield options, “It’s about how to find the right mix to be effective.”
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) October 13, 2023
3 hours to kickoff: The DFB has received significant criticism for making this trip to North America for friendlies against the US and Mexico, with both the media and a few prominent German managers speaking out, including Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel.
While there’s likely some form of superiority complex involved there on a surface level, with Germans miffed that their European giant is traveling across the globe to meet a pair of lesser CONCACAF sides, a closer look at their travel schedule does invite some valid questions.
Most notably, the Germany squad will return to Europe just a single day prior to Dortmund’s first match after the break, which sees BVB play Werder Bremen on Friday, October 20. Bayern have their first game back against on Saturday, as do most Bundesliga teams. Does this trip really serve Germany well compared to other options?
Tuchel on the national team’s trip to the US: “I’m not sure it makes sense to me why Germany are playing Mexico in the USA before a European Championship. We’ve had a lot of away trips recently. The boys will come back from the national team on Thursday, get on a plane to Mainz… pic.twitter.com/GUvzqmV1zM
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) October 6, 2023
USA vs Germany lineups & team news
Berhalter will have a number of squad objectives outside of just the final result, but in such a high-profile match against world-class opponents, it’s unlikely the head coach deploys anything less than his first-choice starting lineup.
The only question in that regard is the full match fitness of Gio Reyna and Cameron Carter-Vickers who both just made their return from long-term injuries with a single substitute appearance before the international break. If they are deemed to be fit for 90 minutes of play, they will be deployed from the start, but in Reyna’s case, it’s likely the U.S. staff is overly careful with his workload through this international window given his complicated injury history.
Otherwise, aside from Tyler Adams who is missing with the recurrence of his hamstring injury, and Antonee Robinson who was rested as he plays through a sports hernia, Berhalter should put his best XI out on the field. Sergino Dest has been playing left-back with his new club PSV this season, and it will be interesting if he’s put there, or at his more natural right-back with a different replacement for Jedi on the left.
USA projected starting lineup (4-3-3): Turner (GK) — Scally, Carter-Vickers, Richards, Dest — Musah, Maloney, McKennie — Weah, Balogun, Pulisic.
USA subs (12): (Lineups released one hour before kickoff)
Julian Nagelsmann has selected a full five center-backs for this trip. One of those is Mats Hummels, who has not been called in since 2021 and was dropped for the entirety of Hansi Flick’s time in charge.
Those five center-backs are in contract to just two natural full-backs on the roster in David Raum and Robin Gosens, both left-sided players. It will be interesting to see how Nagelsmann fills the void on the right, either by dropping Josh Kimmich back, moving one of the full-backs to the opposite side, or inserting the versatile Pascal Gross.
Nagelsmann has oddly selected five center-backs. One of those is Mats Hummels, who has not been called in since 2021 and was dropped for the entirety of Hansi Flick’s time in charge. Hummels was brought off injured in Borussia Dortmund’s final match before the international break, but it seems he is fit to travel and play. His selection came at the expense of Dortmund teammate Nico Schlotterbeck.
Those five center-backs are in contract to just two natural full-backs on the roster in David Raum and Robin Gosens, both left-sided players. It will be interesting to see how Nagelsmann fills the void on the right, either by dropping Josh Kimmich back, moving one of the left-backs to the opposite side, or inserting the versatile Pascal Gross.
Injuries for Nagelsmann to work around include Serge Gnabry who is out with a broken arm, and Timo Werner who has been touch and go at RB Leipzig with a back problem. There’s a choice for Nagelsmann to make up front, as Niclas Fullkrug has been prolific in his short national-team stint, but Thomas Muller is an experienced veteran who is still performing at a high level.
MORE: Get a full overview of the Germany squad for the match against the United States
Germany projected starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Ter Stegen (GK) — Kimmich, Rudiger, Sule, Raum — Gundogan, Goretzka — Sane, Musiala, Brandt — Fullkrug.
Germany subs (12): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
How to watch USA vs Germany
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 14
- Time: 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT
- TV Channel: TNT (English); Telemundo, Universo (Spanish)
- Streaming: Fubo, HBO Max, Peacock, Telemundo Deportes en Vivo, Universo NOW
The match between the United States and Germany will be available to watch on television in both English and Spanish.
TNT will have the English language broadcast, while a Spanish-language option is available on both Telemundo and Universo. All three channels are available to stream on Fubo.
MORE: Watch Premier League matches live with Fubo in USA | Watch EPL in Canada
USA vs Germany betting odds & lines
| USA win |
Draw | Germany win |
Both teams to score Y / N |
Over / Under 2.5 goals |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM (USA) |
+260 | +265 | -110 | -165 / +115 | -155 / +110 |