Christian Pulisic, USMNT Beat Senegal in 2026 World Cup Tune-Up, Top Highlights and Goal-Scorers

That's a bit more like it.

The USMNT showed some real promise in its first of two warm-up matches ahead of June's World Cup, beating Senegal 3-2 on Sunday.

Sergiño Dest, Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun each scored for the Americans, and the United States probably should have put another tally or two on the board.

"I felt this confidence. I've played really well in recent months too, but all people seem to care about is goals," Pulisic said after the game, per ESPN's Jeff Carlisle. "So hopefully now people can stop talking about it. And I feel good and now obviously just a friendly."

The USMNT conceded the possession advantage to Senegal (55.8 percent) but outshot their opponents 14-7 (4-3 on goal).

The Americans took a 2-0 lead into halftime but some spotty defending allowed Senegal to even the contest before Balogun gave the USMNT the lead for good. Still, Senegal is also off to the World Cup, making them a strong litmus test for the United States with the World Cup less than two weeks away.

Mauricio Pochettino will certainly have a few interesting decisions to make after Sunday's showing.

The battle at striker between Ricardo Pepi and Balogun edged in favor of the latter against Senegal, even if Balogun probably should have added a second.

The decision to go with a back three—with Dest and Antonee Robinson as wingbacks—also looked like a solid tactical decision from Poch, giving Dest and Robinson more freedom to go forward and a shaky defense a bit more support.

There isn't great depth at the back, as evidenced by the second half's two goals allowed. But so long as the main starters stay healthy and in form, the USMNT should be set in that regard.

There was more to like than dislike on Sunday, and that hasn't always been the case in the lead-up to the World Cup. Perhaps Poch and the USMNT have finally found their next gear.