Friendlies are friendlies, but you watch the USMNT carve up Senegal in Charlotte and tell me your blood pressure isn't doing weird things. The Yanks came out of the gate flying, got an early goal, and from that point on the vibes coming out of Barstool's timeline were borderline dangerous. We are officially in 'this is probably not great to feel this confident' territory, and we love it here.
Deadpan celebration of the USMNT opener vs Senegal on TNT.
The headline performer was Christian Pulisic, who picked exactly the right month to rediscover his shooting boots. With the World Cup on home soil creeping closer by the day, Captain America strolling around like the best player on the field — shirtless shush celebration and all — is the kind of script the federation would've paid extra for. Folarin Balogun joined the party too, which is the part that should really get you out of your seat, because a healthy, in-form Balogun changes the entire ceiling of this team.
Pulisic mobbed by teammates after going full Captain America.
Tillman was the other guy lighting things up, to the point where Chief was wondering aloud if a goal was offside before immediately admitting it was a hell of a play anyway. That's the problem Mauricio Pochettino — or whoever's holding the clipboard by next summer — actually wants to have. Too many guys playing well at the same time. So naturally, Chief did what every red-blooded soccer sicko does after a result like this: he opened the tactics board.
Chief sketches the USMNT XI live, with Tillman as the puzzle piece.
What is the best lineup for the USMNT? Center backs Ream-Richards-Freeman Wingbacks Robinson and Dest CM Adams and…? 10s Pulisic and…McKennie? Balogun I’d like to find a place for Tillman but I don’t want to drop McKennie deeper
It's a back three of Ream, Richards and Freeman, Robinson and Dest as wingbacks, Adams anchoring midfield, Pulisic and McKennie as the 10s, Balogun up top — and a Tillman-shaped hole he can't quite figure out without shoving McKennie deeper than he wants to. Welcome to the dilemma of a country that suddenly has actual depth. Senegal, for what it's worth, did punch back and made a game of it for stretches, but the through-line from the night is undeniable.
Senegal scramble to clear a USMNT set piece in the second half.
One friendly doesn't win you a World Cup. But Pulisic looking like Pulisic again, Balogun banging, Tillman forcing his way into the lineup conversation, and a back line that doesn't make you want to throw your remote? In June of 2026, with the tournament on the horizon, that's about all you can ask for. PFT said it best — probably not great to feel this confident. We're going to feel it anyway.