ORLANDO, Flordia: The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) opened its road toward the 2030 FIFA World Cup with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Peru on Saturday at a sold-out Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando. The victory marked Mauricio Pochettino’s first match since signing a new contract that keeps him as U.S. head coach through 2030. The match also featured a strong showing from a new generation of American players, with 11 players earning their first senior international cap, including eight teenagers.

Justin Ellis and Julian Hall both scored on their international debuts, while Malik Tillman converted a second-half penalty and Sebastian Berhalter capped the victory with a spectacular long-range goal.

The United States made a fast start when 19-year-old Justin Ellis scored less than four minutes into his senior international debut. Ellis drew a foul on the left side of the field, earning the U.S. a free kick. Gio Reyna delivered the set piece, and Ellis rose inside the penalty area to head the ball toward the far post and give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

The goal was the fastest scored by a U.S. player on his senior debut in the modern era. Ellis also became the first player to score on his USMNT debut in his home state since Brandon Vazquez in 2023.

Peru responded in the 15th minute through veteran striker Gianluca Lapadula. Captain Yoshimar Yotún sent a cross toward the far post, where Lapadula rose above the defense and headed the ball into the opposite corner to make it 1-1. The U.S. continued to create opportunities before halftime, but Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese made an important save to deny Malik Tillman from close range.

The match remained level until the 66th minute, when the United States regained the advantage from the penalty spot. Two minutes after entering the match for his international debut, Mathis Albert made a dangerous run into the penalty area and was brought down by a Peruvian defender. The referee awarded a penalty, and Tillman stepped forward to take it.

Tillman calmly sent his right-footed shot into the net to make it 2-1. It was Tillman’s third goal in three consecutive matches for the United States.

The U.S. extended its lead six minutes later. In the 72nd minute, Sebastian Berhalter delivered a dangerous cross toward the far post, and 18-year-old Julian Hall threw himself at the ball and redirected it into the net. Hall, who plays for New York Red Bulls, scored in his first appearance for the senior national team. He also became the first U.S. player since Matko Miljevic in January 2025 to score and record an assist in his senior international debut.

Sebastian Berhalter put the result beyond doubt in the 90th minute with a spectacular strike from outside the penalty area. After receiving the ball from Hall, Berhalter took his chance from roughly 25 yards and fired a powerful shot beyond Gallese’s reach to make it 4-1. It was Berhalter’s third international goal in 19 appearances for the United States.

The statistics reflected the United States’ control of the match. The USMNT enjoyed 70 percent possession, completed 94 percent of its passes and outshot Peru 16-5. The victory also extended the U.S. team’s unbeaten run at its Orlando home venue to eight matches. The game was played before a sellout crowd of 24,228.

The match marked the beginning of a new phase for the U.S. national team following the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Eleven players made their senior international debuts: Mathis Albert, Justin Ellis, Zavier Gozo, Julian Hall, Diego Kochen, Adri Mehmeti, Peyton Miller, Neil Pierre, Brooklyn Raines, Cavan Sullivan and Frankie Westfield. Cavan Sullivan, at 16 years and 363 days, became the fourth-youngest player to make his senior debut for the United States. The youthful lineup included three teenagers from the start: Ellis, Sullivan and defender Peyton Miller.

Pochettino used the Peru match to introduce a number of young players while also giving several established internationals important minutes. The U.S. coach has a new contract extending through 2030, and the Peru match was the first step toward building the squad for the next World Cup cycle.

The United States will play three more matches during the current international window, beginning with Chile on September 29 in St. Louis. The team will then face Mexico on October 3 in Glendale, Arizona, before closing the window against Canada on October 6 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Final Score:
United States 4-1 Peru

Goals:
4′ — Justin Ellis (USA)
15′ — Gianluca Lapadula (Peru)
66′ — Malik Tillman (USA, penalty)
72′ — Julian Hall (USA)
90′ — Sebastian Berhalter (USA)

SANDY, Utah: Ashley Sanchez has joined elite company in National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) history, scoring her 20th goal of the 2026 season to tie the league’s single-season scoring record. Sanchez converted a penalty in the 37th minute against the Utah Royals on Sunday, becoming only the second player in NWSL history to reach 20 goals in a single regular season. The record was previously set by Temwa Chawinga of the Kansas City Current in 2024. The milestone came despite a disappointing result for Sanchez and the North Carolina Courage, who fell 2-1 to the Utah Royals at America First Field.

Utah opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Cloé Lacasse headed the ball across goal and into the net following a cross from Miyabi. North Carolina responded 20 minutes later after Gianna Paul drew a foul inside the penalty area. Sanchez stepped up and calmly converted the resulting penalty in the 37th minute to make it 1-1. The goal was Sanchez’s 20th of the season and her 27th career regular-season goal for the Courage. She also reached 24 goal contributions for the season, the second-highest total recorded in a single NWSL season.

With four regular-season matches still to play, Sanchez has an opportunity to become the first player in NWSL history to score more than 20 goals in a single season. The 27-year-old forward currently leads the league’s Golden Boot race with 20 goals. Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda is second with 16 goals. Sanchez has enjoyed a remarkable season. Earlier this month, she set the record for most goals by an American player in a single NWSL season, surpassing the previous mark of 15 held by Alex Morgan and Crystal Dunn.

Despite Sanchez’s historic goal, North Carolina could not secure a point. Cece Delzer restored Utah’s lead in the 65th minute, scoring from Mina Tanaka’s assist. The Royals held on through the final whistle to claim a 2-1 victory. The defeat left the Courage with a 12-11-3 record and four regular-season matches remaining. North Carolina sits just one point and one place outside the playoff positions.

The Courage will next travel to face the Seattle Reign, with the match scheduled for Friday night. For Sanchez, however, the focus will be on history. With four games remaining, she needs just one more goal to claim the NWSL single-season scoring record outright.

Final Score: Utah Royals 2-1 North Carolina Courage

Goals:
17′ — Cloé Lacasse (Utah)
37′ — Ashley Sanchez (North Carolina, penalty)
65′ — Cece Delzer (Utah)

COLUMBUS, Ohio: Lionel Messi scored a spectacular free kick, but Inter Miami CF suffered a late 2-1 defeat to the Columbus Crew on Sunday night. Messi’s brilliant strike from a tight angle canceled out Josef Martínez’s 28th-minute penalty, but Jamal Thiaré scored deep into stoppage time to give Columbus all three points at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.

Columbus opened the scoring in the 28th minute when Martínez converted from the penalty spot. Just five minutes later, Messi responded with a stunning free kick from the right side of the field. Despite the difficult angle, the Argentine forward curled the ball perfectly into the net to level the match at 1-1. The goal was Messi’s 21st in the 2026 Major League Soccer regular season, extending his lead in the league’s Golden Boot race. Major League Soccer subsequently highlighted Messi’s strike among the standout goals of Matchday 28, describing it as a goal scored from an “impossible angle.”

Inter Miami had chances to take the lead after halftime, but Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte made several important saves. Messi came close again in the 62nd minute, but his left-footed effort from outside the box was saved by Schulte. Inter Miami also had a goal ruled out for offside later in the second half. The match appeared headed for a draw until the eighth minute of stoppage time. Jamal Thiaré found the net from inside the box in the 98th minute, sending the home crowd into celebration and giving Columbus a dramatic 2-1 victory.

The victory was significant for Columbus, which secured consecutive league wins for only the second time this season. The Crew also moved within four points of ninth-place New York City FC in the Eastern Conference playoff race. A record crowd of 21,188 watched the match at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.

Inter Miami will return home for its next Major League Soccer regular-season match against D.C. United on October 10. Despite the defeat, Messi remains the league’s leading scorer with 21 goals this season.

Final Score:
Columbus Crew 2-1 Inter Miami CF

Goals:
28′ — Josef Martínez (Columbus)
33′ — Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
90+8′ — Jamal Thiaré (Columbus)