The US is making ready one thing that would electrify followers months earlier than the largest sporting occasion ever held on its soil. The plan entails a showdown between one of many biggest gamers of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo, and the largest American star of his era, Christian Pulisic. A duel that would mark the return of a world icon to U.S. turf for the primary time in additional than a decade.
Based on The Athletic, the U.S. Soccer Federation is in superior talks to host Portugal for a glamour pleasant in an NFL-sized stadium on the East Coast. This daring scheduling transfer is a part of the nationwide crew’s build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the US will co-host alongside Mexico and Canada.
Whereas the USMNT doesn’t have to qualify as a number nation, newly appointed head coach Mauricio Pochettino has been clear about his targets. “We need to check ourselves towards totally different kinds and top-level opponents,” he reportedly advised officers. Going through Portugal, and specifically Cristiano Ronaldo, would offer precisely that. The competition’s timing has not but been finalized, however experiences counsel it’s being penciled into a world window that would draw huge consideration worldwide.
The return of Ronaldo?
For American followers, this is able to be extra than simply one other pleasant. It will mark the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, a participant who hasn’t graced U.S. soil since 2014, when he featured for Actual Madrid in a pleasant towards Manchester United at Michigan Stadium in entrance of over 100,000 followers. That very same summer season, he additionally lined up for the Lusos towards Eire at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Since then, Ronaldo’s pre-seasons and worldwide duties have saved him away from America, at the same time as Lionel Messi has settled into MLS with Inter Miami. The possibility to see Ronaldo again, now aged 40 and nonetheless spearheading Portugal, could be historic.
As The Athletic factors out, “the match is conditional on Portugal and Belgium qualifying for the World Cup with out the necessity for a playoff.” If these circumstances are met, Ronaldo may step onto U.S. soil as soon as once more, this time not simply as a visiting famous person however as a competitor in an important build-up to the World Cup.
Pulisic issue and the broader pre-World Cup plan
For the US, this isn’t nearly Ronaldo’s return. It’s about pitting their very own star, Christian Pulisic, towards one of many biggest of all time. Pulisic, who has rediscovered prime type with Milan, is seen because the face of American soccer heading into the 2026 World Cup.
The potential conflict between Ronaldo and Pulisic would create a compelling narrative: a legend within the twilight of his profession towards the chief of the host nation’s golden era. It’s a duel that would encourage American followers and provides the squad a style of the depth they may face within the event.
The Portugal fixture is just one a part of the U.S.’s pre-World Cup imaginative and prescient. Studies additionally counsel that Belgium is being lined up as one other opponent throughout the identical window, whereas Portugal may face Mexico on the iconic Estadio Azteca.
