USMNT Takes on Peru in Orlando in Fan Appreciation Match to Kick Off 2030 World Cup Cycle
The U.S. Men’s National Team will take on Peru in Orlando kicking off a new cycle ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
ORLANDO, Fla. (September 25, 2026) – The U.S. Men’s National Team will take on Peru in Orlando kicking off a new cycle ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The first of a four-match window is USA-Peru on September 26 at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando, Fla. Kickoff for the Fan Appreciation Match is 4:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on TNT, truTV, HBO Max, Telemundo, Universo, and Peacock. [TICKETS]
The match will be carried live on radio as Westwood One Sports delivers English language commentary while longtime partner Fútbol de Primera has the Spanish language call.
Fans can follow the USMNT on X (@USMNT), Instagram (@USMNT), Facebook and the official U.S. Soccer App.
DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Club/Country; Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (4): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire; 1/0), Matt Freese (New York City FC; 19/0), Diego Kochen (Lyngby Boldklub/DEN; 0/0), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (10): George Campbell (West Bromwich Albion FC/ENG; 1/0), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 44/3), Alex Freeman (Villarreal/ESP; 22/3), Peyton Miller (New England Revolution; 0/0), Neil Pierre (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 40/3), Antonee Robinson (Fulham/ENG; 58/5), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 41/3), Auston Trusty (Celtic/SCO; 10/1), Frankie Westfield (Philadelphia Union; 0/0)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth/ENG; 58/2), Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 0/0), Sebastian Berhalter (Middlesbrough/ENG; 18/2), Zavier Gozo (Crystal Palace/ENG; 0/0), Adri Mehmeti (Red Bull New York; 0/0), Yunus Musah (AC Milan/ITA; 47/1), Brooklyn Raines (New England Revolution; 0/0), Gio Reyna (RC Strasbourg Alsace/FRA; 43/10), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen/GER; 35/5)
FORWARDS (5): Cole Campbell (SV Elversberg/GER; 0/0), Damion Downs (St. Louis City SC; 6/0), Justin Ellis (Orlando City SC; 0/0), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York; 0/0), Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union; 0/0)
A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS
The USMNT returns to action for the first time since a run to the Round of 16 at FIFA World Cup 2026. Under the management of Mauricio Pochettino and his staff, the U.S. set a record for most tournament wins by a head coach. The U.S. also won its group outright for only the third time in U.S. Men’s National Team history, then defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2-0, in the Round of 32 — the program's first knockout-stage victory since 2002 — while setting a new USMNT record for wins in a single World Cup.
Poised to begin his first full cycle, Pochettino will be looking to continue strengthening the player pool while identifying emerging talents in the program. Since Pochettino took over in October of 2024, 62 players have earned a cap, coming from 16 different leagues in 12 different countries. The upcoming match against Peru will provide the first opportunity to introduce new players to the program, while continuing to foster growth with returning players.
ORLANDO ORIGINS
The USMNT roster features two Orlando City SC products, current forward Justin Ellis and defender Alex Freeman. A homegrown player for Orlando City, Freeman spent three seasons with the first team where he earned MLS Young Player of the Year honors in 2025 before joining Spanish side Villarreal. Ellis, who earned his first senior call-up this window, has contributed one goal and 10 assists in 19 matches for Orlando City in 2026. The duo appeared in one match together at Orlando, a 3-1 victory over Charlotte FC, with Freeman going the full 90 minutes, while Ellis made his debut with the club subbing on in the 88th minute.
YOUTH ON DISPLAY
The average age of the 28-man squad is 22 years and eight months, more than four years younger than the roster selected for FIFA World Cup 2026. The average age of the 13 uncapped players on the roster is 19 years and six months. The U.S. Youth National Teams have played a major role in the development on players both past and present, leading to younger players receiving opportunities to shine on the international stage. The strength of the pathway was highlighted by a then 21-year-old, Alex Freeman becoming the sixth youngest American goalscorer at a World Cup.
Five of the uncapped players named to this roster were part of the 2025 U-20 FIFA World Cup (Cole Campbell, Zavier Gozo, Peyton Miller, Brooklyn Raines and Frankie Westfield) while three players were part of the 2025 U-17 FIFA World Cup (Mathis Albert, Julian Hall and Cavan Sullivan).
MLS TO USMNT
In a roster featuring new and returning players, MLS clubs contribute 12 out of the 28 squad members. From that group, a total of nine will have the opportunity to earn their first cap with the National Team. The three players from MLS who have been in with the USMNT before are 2026 World Cup veterans Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), and Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati). The MLS teams are led by Philadelphia Union with three players, followed by New England Revolution and Red Bull New York with two players apiece. Uncapped goalkeeper Brian Schwake and Nashville SC currently sit atop the MLS standings, while uncapped forward Justin Ellis will return to his home club Orlando City SC for the match against Peru.
NEW TO PERU
The last meeting between the USMNT and Peru resulted in a 1-1 draw on Oct. 16, 2018. Antonee Robinson is the only player on the 28-man squad to appear in that match, entering int the 92nd minute.
ROSTER NOTES
IN FOCUS: PERU
DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Club/Country; Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Matías Córdova (Comerciantes Unidos/PER; 0/0), Pedro Gallese (Deportivo Cali/COL; 127/0), Diego Romero (Sporting Cristal /PER; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (7): Miguel Araujo (Sporting Cristal/PER; 44/1), Alfonso Barco (HNK Rijeka/CRO; 5/0), Renzo Garcés (Club Alianza Lima/PER; 15/1), Marco Huamán (Club Alianza Lima/PER; 3/0), César Inga (Universitario de Deportes/PER; 5/1), Marcos López (FC Copenhagen/DEN; 53/0), Oliver Sonne (Burnley FC/ENG; 17/0)
MIDFIELDERS (11): André Carrillo (Corinthians/BRA; 108/11), Wilder Cartagena (Orlando City SC; 40/0), Jairo Concha (Universitario de Deportes/PER; 11/0), Piero Magallanes (Sport Huancayo/PER; 1/1), Oslimg Mora (Sport Boys/PER; 3/0), Erick Noriega (Gremio/BRA; 11/0), Jesús Pretell (LDU Quito/ECU; 8/0), Bassco Soyer (Gil Vicente/POR; 1/1), Jhonny Vidales (FBC Melgar/PER; 4/0), Yoshimar Yotún (Club Sporting Cristal/PER; 134/8), Matías Zegarra (FBC Melgar/PER; 2/0)
FORWARDS (5): Gianluca Lapadula (Universitario de Deportes/PER; 42/10), Adrián Ugarriza (Hapoel Beer Sheva/ISR; 4/0), Alex Valera (Universitario de Deportes/PER; 25/5), Jairo Vélez (Club Alianza Lima/Peru; 4/4), Rodrigo Vilca (Comerciantes Unidos/PER; 3/0)
POST-WORLD CUP REBUILD
Peru missed out on qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 3-0 loss to Uruguay on Matchday 17 of the CONMEBOL qualifiers. Peru last appeared in the 2018 edition.
Since missing out on the tournament, La Bicolor have played four matches, accumulating a 1W-2L-1D record. As they approach Saturday's match and fixtures against Mexico and Canda to follow, they look to balance veterans of the squad like goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and forward Gianluca Lapadula with rising talents in midfielder Erick Noriega and defender Oliver Sonne.
PERUVIAN BOSS
Brazilian-born manager Mano Menezes is at the helm of the Peruvian squad after taking charge in January 2026. The heralded manager has coached some of the most prominent clubs in Brazil, leading the way at Corinthians, Flamengo and Fluminense.
Menezes has previously served in a rebuilding role at the international level, following his appointment as head coach of the Brazilian national team after the nation's quarterfinal defeat during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Brazilian led his country for two years, amassing a total record of 21W-6L-6D. Following his departure from that position, Menezes has managed clubs domestically in Brazil, China and Saudi Arabia before returning to the international stage with Peru.
LIONS OF PAST AND PRESENT
La Bicolor's ties to Orlando City SC feature the past and present, with two former players and one current.
Peru's most-capped player midfielder, Yoshimar Yotún (134 caps) spent two seasons with Orlando City, including the 2018 season where he was named an MLS All-Star. Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese (127 caps) played for Orlando City from 2020 to 2025, setting club records for most minutes played by a goalkeeper (18,188), saves (568), wins (89) and clean sheets (57). Gallese and Yotún could both appear at Inter.co Stadium in the upcoming match against the USMNT.
Orlando City SC midfielder Wilder Cartagena is in his fourth season with the club, making 11 appearances in MLS in 2026. This season, Cartagena has primarily featured as a substitute, following his return from an Achilles tendon rupture that sidelined him for the 2025 season. Cartagena is teammates with USMNT forward Justin Ellis, who has the opportunity to earn his first cap at his home stadium.