We Speak Soccer
USMNT to Close 2026 Against Jamaica in Fort Lauderdale as December Camp Replaces January Camp
The United States men’s national team will finish its year in Florida. U.S. Soccer announced on Tuesday that the USMNT will host Jamaica in a friendly on December 13 at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Fort Lauderdale (3:30pm ET, TNT, truTV, HBO Max and Telemundo).
Because the match falls outside a FIFA window, Mauricio Pochettino’s squad will be built mostly from MLS players, and the December camp will replace the traditional January camp that has launched so many international careers. European regulars Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun are not expected to be available.
“As we continue to build our group, this is an excellent opportunity to work with many of the MLS players and potentially see some new faces,” Pochettino said. “Jamaica is the type of team we could see in upcoming tournaments including World Cup qualifying, so it’s a great opportunity and experience for these players.”
It will be the rivals’ first meeting since the United States’ 4-2 win in the Nations League quarterfinals in November 2024. The US have won all four of their post-World Cup friendlies this fall, against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada, with nine MLS players making their debuts, including 17-year-old Cavan Sullivan and 18-year-old Julian Hall. The audition matters: 2027 brings the Nations League Finals, the Gold Cup and the start of 2030 World Cup qualifying.
We Speak Soccer
Sioux Falls Lincoln Wins Fourth Straight South Dakota Class AA Boys Title in Shootout Classic
Sioux Falls Lincoln’s dynasty survived its hardest test yet. The Patriots beat Watertown 2-1 in a penalty shootout on October 17 at the Allen Mitchell Athletic Complex in Watertown to win their fourth consecutive South Dakota Class AA boys soccer state championship.
On a cold, windy afternoon, Watertown, playing in front of their home crowd, struck first when senior Roger Carranza scored his 23rd goal of the season six minutes into the second half. Lincoln levelled with 5:46 remaining, Jacob Burchett converting a penalty kick, and after two scoreless overtime periods the title came down to a shootout.
Both teams converted their first four kicks. Then senior goalkeeper Opland Sonnichsen saved Watertown’s fifth attempt, from Xane Fligge, and Marlo Gerling buried the winner into the upper-right corner.
“We practice a lot,” Sonnichsen said. “I knew they were good penalty kickers, so I knew I would have to dive left and right. But we got the job done.”
The title is Lincoln’s sixth overall, tying Sioux Falls Christian’s state records for consecutive championships and total championships. Head coach Alex Nelson called it “a storybook ending for these seniors.” Watertown finish a historic 16-1-1 season, the program’s best, with 16 seniors playing their final high school match.
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