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Germany’s record appearance holder Lothar Matthäus couldn’t hide his amusement at the playing conditions in the United States following the German national team’s final warm-up game before the World Cup on Saturday night.

The fixture was held at Soldier Field in Chicago, where Germany registered a 2–1 (1–1) victory against the co-hosts USA in their last preparatory match ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking on RTL’s post-match show, Matthäus mentioned that match-winner Leroy Sané had complained about the pitch just minutes earlier. “The ball moves slower; it doesn’t glide properly on the turf,” Matthäus explained.

The 1990 World Cup champion expressed disbelief that the field had been watered “with a garden hose” before kickoff. “That’s how my parents did it 50 or 60 years ago. And they’re still doing it that way here,” Matthäus quipped. “It slows the game down, the passing becomes sluggish. The team will need to adjust to different surfaces during this World Cup.”

“It was too long”: Kai Havertz shares pre-match frustration before the World Cup.

On Saturday evening (German time), Kai Havertz gave Germany an early lead with a header in the second minute, finishing off a free-kick delivery from Joshua Kimmich.

Havertz later admitted that the lengthy pre-match ceremony, in which all 26 players of the U.S. World Cup squad were introduced one by one, left him feeling restless. “To be honest, it was a bit too long,” the 26-year-old told RTL. “I don’t know if it will be the same at the actual World Cup matches, but you have to be ready for it.”

Despite Germany’s bright start, the United States grew into the contest midway through the first half and levelled through Antonee Robinson in the 37th minute. After halftime, Germany regained control, and around the 60th minute, Sané restored the lead to make it 2–1.

Germany to kick off 2026 World Cup campaign in Houston

Julian Nagelsmann’s side will begin their World Cup journey on 14 June in Houston against Curaçao. They will then face Ivory Coast in Toronto on 20 June before rounding off the group stage against Ecuador in New York/New Jersey on 25 June.

In contrast to the two recent friendlies against Finland (4–0) and the USA (2–1), Manuel Neuer will replace Oliver Baumann as Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper against Curaçao. The Bayern Munich captain has returned to the national team for the World Cup finals but has yet to play due to a calf injury.

Head coach Nagelsmann confirmed that after the team moves to its World Cup base in Winston-Salem on Monday, Neuer will “join full team training and then play against Curaçao.”

Germany’s 2026 World Cup squad

Goalkeepers:
Oliver Baumann (TSG Hoffenheim) – 12
Manuel Neuer (FC Bayern Munich) – 1
Alexander Nübel (VfB Stuttgart) – 21

Defenders:
Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund) – 3
Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt) – 18
Pascal Groß (Brighton & Hove Albion) – 13
Joshua Kimmich (FC Bayern Munich) – 6
Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund) – 23
Aleksandar Pavlovic (FC Bayern Munich) – 5
David Raum (RB Leipzig) – 22
Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid) – 2
Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund) – 15
Angelo Stiller (VfB Stuttgart) – 16
Jonathan Tah (FC Bayern Munich) – 4
Malick Thiaw (Newcastle United) – 24

Midfielders & Forwards:
Nadiem Amiri (Mainz 05) – 20
Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund) – 14
Leon Goretzka (FC Bayern Munich) – 8
Kai Havertz (Arsenal) – 7
Assan Ouedraogo (RB Leipzig) – 25
Jamie Leweling (VfB Stuttgart) – 9
Jamal Musiala (FC Bayern Munich) – 10
Leroy Sané (Galatasaray Istanbul) – 19
Deniz Undav (VfB Stuttgart) – 26
Florian Wirtz (Liverpool FC) – 17
Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United) – 11