The U.S. men`s national team (USMNT) is reportedly planning a high-profile friendly against Portugal, potentially setting the stage for Cristiano Ronaldo`s first return to American soil since 2014. This match would be one of the final significant tests for the USMNT before they co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Slated for the late March international break, the friendly is expected to take place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This 71,000-seat venue, home to MLS side Atlanta United and the NFL`s Atlanta Falcons, is a designated 2026 World Cup host city and will even stage a semifinal match. The event could also coincide with the inauguration of U.S. Soccer’s new $200 million training complex in Fayetteville, Atlanta.
Beyond Portugal, U.S. Soccer is also exploring other top-tier opponents for that same international window, with reports suggesting potential friendlies against Belgium and 2018 World Cup champions France. These matches are likely to be held in NFL stadiums on the East Coast, providing an opportunity for World Cup-bound nations to experience host country facilities ahead of the tournament.
The USMNT is committed to challenging itself against elite competition in the lead-up to the World Cup, aiming for a friendly schedule predominantly featuring teams ranked within FIFA`s top 30. Recent fixtures include a 2-1 loss to Turkey, a 5-0 defeat against Switzerland, and a 2-0 victory over South Korea. Upcoming opponents like Japan, Ecuador, Australia, and Uruguay also fall within this top-tier category, as do the potential European adversaries for March.
“It was very challenging for us,” the USMNT head coach stated following a recent defeat, emphasizing the value of confronting top-level opposition. “The highest level that we face, it`s more risk because I think maybe we are going to struggle to get the result at the moment but I think we are going to learn more.”
Portugal, currently ranked sixth globally, is a perennial World Cup participant, having reached the quarterfinals in 2022 and recently winning the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League. Their squad boasts stars from Europe’s most prestigious clubs, such as Manchester United`s Bruno Fernandes and Paris Saint-Germain`s Vitinha. Despite being 40, Cristiano Ronaldo remains a central figure and the team`s talisman.
While Ronaldo has never played for a U.S.-based club, he has made occasional appearances in the country during European club preseason tours. However, his last match in the U.S. was in August 2014, when he featured as a substitute for Real Madrid in a friendly against Manchester United at Michigan Stadium. None of his subsequent clubs – Juventus, Manchester United, or Al-Nassr – undertook U.S. preseason tours during his tenure. Similarly, the Portuguese national team has not played in the U.S. since a friendly against Ireland earlier that same summer at MetLife Stadium.
Cristiano Ronaldo`s Legal Entanglements in the U.S.
Ronaldo`s absence from U.S. public appearances since 2017 is notably linked to allegations of sexual assault. In that year, German newspaper Der Spiegel brought to light claims by model Kathryn Mayorga that Ronaldo raped her in Las Vegas in 2009. Ronaldo and his legal team have consistently denied these accusations, which subsequently led to a protracted legal battle between the parties.
Mayorga reported the incident to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department the day after, though without identifying her alleged assailant or the specific location, citing fear of public backlash. Weeks later, she initiated civil proceedings against Ronaldo, with her lawyers engaging with his legal representatives. According to documents reportedly seen by Der Spiegel, Ronaldo, in a series of questionnaires, stated the encounter was consensual but also noted, “she said no and stop several times” and that he apologized afterward.
In January 2010, an out-of-court settlement was reached between Mayorga`s representatives and Ronaldo`s legal team in Las Vegas (Ronaldo was not present). Under this agreement, Mayorga received $375,000 in exchange for keeping the allegations confidential. A statement from Ronaldo`s representatives in 2018 clarified, “This agreement is by no means a confession of guilt.”
When the allegations became public in 2017, Mayorga retained new counsel who sought to invalidate the settlement and non-disclosure agreement. Las Vegas police reopened the case in September 2018, and by January 2019, a warrant was issued for Ronaldo`s DNA sample. Court documents indicated this sample matched evidence from the case, according to ESPN.
However, investigators faced significant challenges in pursuing the case further. They struggled to independently verify documents published by Football Leaks and Der Spiegel. British police also failed to cooperate concerning a separate 2005 rape allegation against Ronaldo, though INTERPOL confirmed his arrest 18 days after that accusation. Additionally, Mayorga`s attorneys did not respond to investigators` requests during this period. Consequently, the Clark County District Attorney`s office decided not to file charges, concluding that “the allegations of sexual assault against Cristiano Ronaldo cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Mayorga subsequently filed a case in state court in September 2018, which was transferred to federal court the following year. This case was ultimately dismissed by a judge in June 2022. Subsequently, Mayorga`s lawyer was ordered to pay Ronaldo $334,637.50 in legal fees for utilizing stolen documents in the lawsuit. Mayorga and her legal team withdrew their appeal against this payment in May 2024.
