USMNT Weekend Viewing Guide: Marching On

With only one international break remaining before the summer’s World Cup, the race for the final U.S. men’s national-team roster spots is entering its decisive phase. Across Europe this weekend, more than a dozen Americans will step onto pitches where performances could still sway head-coach deliberations, while a handful of title-chasing clubs provide high-stakes backdrops for auditions.

Friday offers an early look at two Bundesliga hopefuls. Joe Scally is expected to start for Borussia Mönchengladbach at league-leading Bayern Munich (2:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Select). Gladbach halted a seven-match winless slide last weekend and climbed to 12th, yet remain only three points above the relegation playoff berth. Gio Reyna, back on the bench last round, could again feature against the Bavarians. Two hours later Folarin Balogun and Monaco visit PSG (2:45 p.m., beIN Sports). Balogun has struck in consecutive league fixtures and twice against the Parisians in the Champions League round of 16, and Monaco carry a three-match league winning streak into Parc des Princes.

Saturday’s nine-match slate is headlined by the Milan derby. Christian Pulisic, coming off a 2-0 win over Cremonese in which he started for a second straight game, will line up for AC Milan against runaway leader Inter (3:45 p.m., Paramount+). Milan trail Inter by ten points; only a victory keeps scudetto hopes flickering. Sergino Dest and Ricardo Pepi are also in action for PSV against AZ (2 p.m., ESPN Select). Pepi, easing back from a broken arm, logged a full half last weekend after a series of cameo appearances.

Germany supplies the bulk of viewing options. Malik Tillman is available for Bayer Leverkusen at Freiburg (9:30 a.m., ESPN Select) after a 20-minute cameo last round ended a two-match injury layoff. Cole Campbell could see increased minutes for Hoffenheim at last-place Heidenheim following a four-minute debut last weekend. Lennard Maloney and Mainz welcome fourth-place Stuttgart, while 19-year-old Noahkai Banks—whose international future remains undecided between the United States and Germany—looks to build on an assist that sealed Augsburg’s 2-0 win over Köln when they visit RB Leipzig. In the relegation fight, Kevin Paredes remains sidelined with a muscle issue as Wolfsburg, now 17th, host Hamburg, where Damion Downs has started the past two matches.

In Spain, Johnny Cardoso played the full 90 mid-week as Atlético Madrid survived Barcelona’s 3-0 onslaught to reach the Copa del Rey final on aggregate. Los Rojiblancos now meet Real Sociedad, also Copa finalists, on Saturday (12:30 p.m., ESPN Select). Italy’s lunchtime window features Weston McKennie and a struggling Juventus side welcoming 19th-place Pisa (2:45 p.m., Paramount+); Juve are winless in four league matches and four points behind Roma in the top-four chase.

France showcases two American duels. Mark McKenzie’s Toulouse host Tim Weah’s Marseille (3:05 p.m., beIN Sports). Weah and Marseille are unbeaten in six across all competitions; McKenzie’s side has lost three of its last four. Later Sunday Tanner Tessmann and Lyon—reeling from back-to-back defeats—meet Paris FC (3:45 p.m., beIN Sports).

England’s FA Cup offers a Sunday-morning meeting between Brenden Aaronson’s Leeds United and Norwich City (12:30 p.m., ESPN Select). Leeds have not won in four league outings and required penalties to oust Birmingham in the previous cup round. In the Championship’s promotion scrap, Aiden Morris and Middlesbrough travel to Queens Park Rangers holding a three-point cushion inside the playoff zone.

Whatever the results, the weekend’s minutes, goals, and assists will be parsed by a coaching staff still finalizing the 23-man plane ticket to the World Cup. Tune in—roster spots remain on the line.