USA ‘hold talks with World Cup winner Argentina and Brazil over fall friendlies’

The United States has held talks with World Cup winner Argentina and its fellow South American soccer heavyweight Brazil over hosting two friendly matches in the fall.

According to The Athletic, the games could be held in September, October or November but discussions at present are in the early stages.

Last month, it was confirmed that the US would host the 2024 Copa America in a move that keeps the team competitive for the 2026 World Cup – a competition it doesn’t have to qualify for because it is already a co-host with Mexico and Canada.

But the US has also identified a need to keep its team playing against top level international sides to maintain improvement after reaching the last-16 of the World Cup in Qatar last year. There, the team was defeated 3-1 by Holland. 

The prospective friendly games could also see Lionel Messi compete on American soil. The Argentina star has been strongly linked with a move to David Beckham’s Major League Soccer team Inter Miami and his current Paris Saint-Germain deal expires at the end of the European club season.

Lionel Messi and Argentina could play against USA in a friendly game later this year

The USA is also reportedly said to be in talks over hosting a game against Neymar and Brazil

Messi, 35, has indicated he wishes to keep on playing for Argentina now that he is a world champion.

Brazil, meanwhile, reached the World Cup quarterfinal before losing to Croatia on penalties.

The US has since played two friendly games since the World Cup but without its European-based players due to their club competition commitments. They lost 2-1 to Serbia and drew 0-0 against Colombia.

The next US games are against Grenada and El Salvador in March in the CONCACAF Nations League.

The team currently has Anthony Hudson acting as an interim coach after Gregg Berhalter’s contract expired while US Soccer investigates a domestic violence incident involving his now-wife from 1991, when they were dating as teenagers.

Berhalter admitted to kicking his wife in the legs in a drunken row and months later, they reconciled and have been together ever since. The incident was leaked to US Soccer by the parents of Gio Reyna, a USA international in the squad at the World Cup.

The investigation is still ongoing and Berhalter remains a candidate to continue as USA coach.

Another coaching option is Jesse Marsch, who on Monday was sacked by English Premier League side Leeds United. 

The US is looking to stay competitive against top level international teams to help grow

In the last World Cup, the United States reached the last-16 before losing 3-1 to Holland