USMNT start over against Peru in Orlando

The United States face Peru in Orlando on Saturday in their first match since the 2026 World Cup.

Kick-off is at 4:30pm ET / 9:30pm BST on 26 September at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, according to The Guardian. U.S. Soccer has designated it the Fan Appreciation Match. It opens a four-match fall slate against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada.

It is a friendly, a non-competitive international played outside a tournament. That status matters here. The United States and Peru have agreed to allow 11 substitutions, and head coach Mauricio Pochettino planned to use 26 of his 28 available players, The Guardian reported.

Expect wholesale changes. The camp includes 13 uncapped players, a cap being an appearance for the national team. The 28-man group blends experience with a long look at new options.

Conditions will test them. Matchday temperature in Orlando was 82 degrees with high humidity. Pochettino spoke to reporters in Orlando on Friday ahead of the game and said he would have preferred three matches in this international window instead of the four scheduled by U.S. Soccer.

The schedule moves fast. The United States play Chile in St. Louis, Missouri, three days after Peru, Reuters reported. Mexico and Canada follow to complete the four games announced by U.S. Soccer.

All four September and October friendlies will be broadcast on TNT and HBO Max, with Telemundo listed for the Peru game.

For context, this is a reset. The United States were eliminated by Belgium in the last 16 in Seattle at the World Cup. The new cycle has already brought change. The 20-year-old centre-back Noahkai Banks has completed a one-time switch to represent Germany. Teenager Cavan Sullivan turns 17 on 28 September.

What makes this stand out is the simplicity. No points. No knockout tie. Just a chance for strangers in the squad to become teammates, and for supporters in Orlando to see the next version of the team first.