Venezuela Faces US in Key Friendly Ahead of World Cup Qualifiers

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Venezuelan national soccer team will face the United States in a high-stakes friendly match this Saturday at Chase Stadium, home of Inter Miami CF. The game serves as a crucial preparation for Venezuela ahead of the resumption of South American World Cup qualifiers in March.

The match, scheduled for 3 p.m. EST, will feature a mix of young prospects from both teams, as it falls outside FIFA‘s international match calendar. U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino plans to evaluate MLS players and youth prospects for upcoming CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup tournaments. Meanwhile, Venezuela’s coach Fernando ‘Bocha’ Batista will also test young talent as his team seeks to climb from eighth place in the South American qualifiers.

Venezuela, currently with 12 points, trails Paraguay by five points for a direct World Cup qualification spot. The team failed to win any qualifiers in 2024, slipping out of contention. Their next matches in March will see them face Ecuador in Quito and host Peru in Maturín.

The U.S. team, already qualified for the 2026 World Cup as co-hosts, will use this match to fine-tune their roster. Tickets for the game, ranging from $35 to $237, are still available on Ticketmaster. The match will be broadcast on Telemundo in Spanish and TNT in English.

Venezuela’s 24-man squad includes 11 players yet to debut with the senior team and 17 with three or fewer caps. Notable call-ups include goalkeeper Wuilker Fariñez and forward Jan Hurtado. The U.S. roster, though not fully disclosed, is expected to feature emerging talents from Major League Soccer.

This friendly marks the first international match of 2025 for both teams, setting the stage for a year packed with competitive fixtures. For Venezuela, it’s a chance to regain momentum; for the U.S., an opportunity to build depth ahead of hosting the World Cup.