Tip of the Cap

Erstwhile sportswriter. Soccer evangelist. Retweets, news, updates, takes and reactions primarily focused on the USMNT

[Tom Bogert @tombogert]

🇺🇸 The United States lose their final pre-World Cup tuneup to Germany, 2-1.

- Pulisic best two-game run for USMNT in long time
- Robinson's stunner
- Richards' absence
- First choice XI preview?

w/ @HenryBushnell @PaulTenorio
https://t.co/fJlb9wrbqg

[Alex Tiffin @RespectIsVital]

The United States has denied a visa for Iran's national team manager Mehdi Mohammadnabi.

He will be barred entering the U.S. for their the Fifa #WorldCup 2026 matches.

He & others also denied visas will travel to the team camp in Mexico whilst efforts to obtain visas continue.

[OptaJack⚽️ @OptaJack]

2002 - The #USMNT is the first FIFA World Cup host to lose its last match prior to the competition since Korea Republic lost 3-2 to France in 2002. Korea Republic went on to reach the semi-finals of that World Cup. Response.

[Paul Carr @PaulCarr]

🇺🇸 The USMNT has lost its final pre-World Cup match for the first time since 2002 (to Netherlands).

🇺🇸 The U.S. went on to get its only World Cup knockout-stage win and reach the quarterfinals that year.

[Sanjay Sujanthakumar @tha_Real_Kumar]

Poch describes conceding early as "amazing challenge" bc it was "good to see reaction of the team" which he feels was "positive" #USMNT

[Thomas 🇺🇸 @USKeeper]

Chilean 🇨🇱 referee Piero Maza will officiate this afternoon's #USMNT🇺🇸 match against Germany🇩🇪.

It will be the first time Maza has taken charge of a USMNT match.

[Tom Bogert @tombogert]

A number of the USMNT 1994 World Cup team are being honored right now pregame and just greeted the players ahead of warmups.

USMNT - Germany today is the team’s final pre-World Cup tuneup

[Adam Crafton @AdamCrafton_]

Story @TheAthleticFC

The International Sports Press Association (AIPS) has written to FIFA claiming that “many” Iranian and African journalists have been denied the necessary visas to cover the World Cup in the United States.

https://t.co/GUgKB86HvB

[herculez gomez @herculezg]

As close to the starting XI as you’ll see.

Chris Richards for Miles Robinson, and I believe this will be the XI for the #USMNT's opening World Cup match against Paraguay.

[Paul Carr @PaulCarr]

USMNT-Germany pregame now on TNT, kickoff at 1:37 CT. 🇺🇸🇩🇪

USMNT is winless in 14 straight games vs FIFA top 10 teams other than Mexico, last winning vs…Germany in 2015. (Germany is currrently 10th.)

[Men in Blazers @MenInBlazers]

Julio Enciso, Paraguay's second-top scorer in World Cup qualifying, left the field in tears after being injured in a friendly on Friday 😢

Paraguay play the USMNT in their World Cup opener in six days. Enciso is expected to miss that game, per reports 🇵🇾

[ABC News @ABC]

The U.S. has denied visas to "a large portion" of the support staff for the Iranian national soccer team just days before the World Cup, the Iranian Embassy in Turkey said. https://t.co/7IqZuPwy1R

[U.S. Soccer Men's National Team @USMNT]

STARTING IN CHICAGO...

#USMNT x The @HomeDepot

[U.S. Soccer Men's National Team @USMNT]

Five changes to the XI from last week.

🗒️: https://t.co/IE8FhHjK6q

#USMNT x @CocaCola

[The New York Times @nytimes]

From @TheAthleticFC: FIFA staff reportedly believe the decision to reverse the water-bottle policy at World Cup venues was highly influenced by commercial considerations. There has been tension for months over the policy inside FIFA. https://t.co/bquemepvF6

[Jeff Kassouf @JeffKassouf]

Emma Hayes says she wants the #USWNT to be exposed to the "chaos" that Brazil creates: less in-play time, fewer passes, player-to-player marking, and of course, life on the road.

https://t.co/lzRaU0W0ui

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

🚨 BREAKING: Lennart Karl suffered an injury in training today, announces Julian Nagelsmann.

“It doesn't look good. He went to the hospital and will have scans. We have to wait for the diagnosis and see if he can play at the World Cup or if we have to call up a replacement”, says Nagelsmann.

[Kyle Bonn @the_bonnfire]

Paraguay star Julio Enciso in tears as he exits the pitch tonight 25 minutes into their friendly against Nicaragua. The #USMNT plays Paraguay in their World Cup opener.

Enciso would be a huge loss for them.

[Doug McIntyre @ByDougMcIntyre]

With momentum building but minus key defender Chris Richards, the #USMNT is ready for Saturday’s World Cup sendoff match against four-time champion Germany. @FOXSoccer: https://t.co/hSyQc9VxPX

[Glenn Crooks @GlennCrooks]

We are monitoring Chris Richards closely & know he is out for final warmup match vs. Germany.

The Germans received terrible news from training today: Lennart Karl suffered a thigh tear & is ruled out for the World Cup.

18 yr old, left-footed attacker was expected to contribute to the cause.

#WorldCup #Germany @SiriusXMFC