The U.S. men's national soccer team opens its 2025 campaign with a friendly match against Venezuela on Saturday. USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino has called in a Major League Soccer-heavy roster for Saturday's match versus Venezuela as well as Wednesday's friendly against Concacaf rival Costa Rica.

On Saturday, the U.S. men’s national team will face Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The friendly is an opportunity for the United States to build positive momentum under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino.

During his speech, Maduro talked about the number of alleged mercenaries detained in Venezuela for trying to undermine his government, saying they numbered more than 150, came from 25 countries.

The US wanted poster offering a $25 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro is the most obvious sign yet of the international screws being tightened on his regime—with profound criminal implications.

Venezuela’s foreign minister on Monday accused opponents of President Nicolás Maduro as being linked to damages at the country’s diplomatic facilities in five nations.

Venezuela attorney general Tarek Saab said on Monday his office has requested an arrest warrant and Interpol red notice against opposition figure Leopoldo Lopez, who spent years in detention in Venezuela and has lived in Spain since 2020.

Chevron Corp. presentó declaraciones de impuestos por valor de unos US$300 millones al gobierno venezolano el año pasado, lo que plantea interrogantes sobre cuánto se está beneficiando el presidente Nicolás Maduro de la producción petrolera de la compañía estadounidense a pesar de las sanciones.

Goalkeeper Drake Callender became the fourth player dropped from the roster for the United States' friendly against Venezuela on Saturday. The U.S. Soccer Federation said Thursday that Callender has a minor muscle issue and returned to Inter Miami for evaluation and treatment.

Venezuelans once again watched as Nicolás Maduro was sworn into office on Friday, donning the executive sash and declaring himself president despite irregularities and questions around his election.

Venezuela on Saturday condemned new sanctions that the U.S., Britain, and the European Union imposed the previous day, when the country swore in President Nicolas Maduro for a third term after a six-month election dispute.

Forward Jesús Ferreira and defenders Jalen Neal and John Tolkin left U.S. training camp ahead of Saturday’s friendly against Venezuela.