US soccer is set for October friendlies against Germany and Ghana on home soil

The United States men’s national soccer team will play exhibitions against Germany and Ghana in October.

No. 14-ranked Germany will play the 13th-ranked U.S. on Oct. 14 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut, and No. 60 Ghana will face the Americans three days later at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee, the U.S. Soccer Federation said Tuesday.

Team USA has an automatic berth for the 2026 World Cup as co-host and Germany has an automatic spot in the 2024 European Championship, which it is hosting.

The USMNT is also still looking for a permanent head coach following the promotion of new interim head coach B. J. Callaghan around the departure of Anthony Hudson.

US soccer is expected to have a full-time coach in place before the friendlies take place.

US soccer has announced October friendlies against both Germany and Ghana in America

B.J. Callaghan was named as USA interim head coach for the 2023 summer tournaments 

Former interim boss Anthony Hudson has moved on after taking over from Gregg Berhalter

Hudson is said to have left his position with the US team to take a permeant position as a head coach for a team in the Persian Gulf, according to The Athletic.

He was placed in interim charge of the team following the expiration of Gregg Berhalter’s contract at the end of the Qatar World Cup in December.

But now he’s moving on, US Soccer announced Tuesday, and Callaghan has been promoted to the head coach role after working as an assistant with the USA for the last four years.

‘B.J. has been an integral part of the USMNT staff during the last four years as this young team has grown and developed,’ US Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker said. 

‘Working alongside Anthony Hudson these last five months, we are confident he is prepared and ready to lead this group in the summer tournaments. 

‘We are grateful to Anthony for the tremendous job he did and wish him success in the future.’ 

The USSF said the decision to elevate Callaghan, a 41-year-old from Ventnor, New Jersey, was made by Matt Crocker, who is leaving relegated Southampton to become USSF sporting director on Aug. 2. Crocker is leading the search for a permanent coach to guide the team through the 2026 World Cup, which the Americans will co-host.

Neither Callaghan nor Crocker was made available to media by the USSF to discuss the change.

Gregg Berhalter guided USA to the Round of 16 at the World Cup before his contract expired

Callaghan figures to have the full player pool available for the CONCACAF Nations League final four. The defending champion Americans play Mexico on June 15 and Canada or Panama three days later.

Most Europe-based players are expected to skip the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which starts June 24 and runs through July 16.

Callaghan played at Ursinus and spent six seasons at Villanova, becoming associate head coach. He worked in the youth academy of Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union, then became an assistant coach in 2014.

‘I understand the responsibility of the job and am honored to have the opportunity to build upon the progress this group has made the last four years,’ Callaghan said on Tuesday. 

‘Together, we have built a strong culture and a great understanding of how we want to play, and we expect to continue to build on that progress. Our goal is clear: defend both of our CONCACAF titles.’