Mar 28, 2026, 08:48 PM ET
The United States men's national team suffered what coach Mauricio Pochettino described as a "reality check" in its preparations for the World Cup as Belgium ran rampant in the second half to emerge emphatic 5-2 winners at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday.
Weston McKennie rewarded the U.S. for an impressive start with the opening goal in the 39th minute as he turned in an Antonee Robinson corner at the back post for his 12th international goal and first in three years.
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But Zeno Debast scored a long-range equalizer for Belgium on the stroke of halftime and the No. 9-ranked visitors scored three more times in a 15-minute spell in the second half to expose some defensive vulnerabilities for Mauricio Pochettino's side.
Amadou Onana's strike was added to by a penalty from Charles De Ketelaere, after a handball by U.S. captain Tim Ream, before Dodi Lukebakio scored the pick of the goals, with a curling effort into the top corner of Matt Turner's net.
Lukebakio added his second and Belgium's fifth in the 82nd minute to prompt early exits from some among the largely pro-American crowd of 66,867 before substitute Patrick Agyemang scored a late consolation for the U.S.
The result snapped a five-game unbeaten streak for the U.S., which was tied for the best run of Pochettino's tenure.
While acknowledging it was a chastening result for his side, Pochettino insisted that there was no need to panic just over two months before the World Cup begins.
"I think it's the last thing to be concerned about the World Cup," he said at a news conference. "It's more about analyzing the game.
"I think that of course 5-2 is always difficult to accept. It's painful, but at the same time I think we need to take so many positive things. The first half was really good. I think we really play better than Belgium.
"I think we create chances to finish the 45 minutes in a positive way, but we concede in the last action of the first half and then there was an impact. And it's true that after the second half, it really was difficult for us."
Belgium extended its unbeaten streak to 10 games and has won six straight against the U.S. since losing to the Americans at the initial World Cup in 1930.
The USMNT will now look to regain some momentum against another leading European opponent when facing off with Portugal back in Atlanta on Tuesday. That will be the final game for Pochettino to assess his players before naming his roster for the World Cup at the end of May.
The U.S., which is co-hosting the tournament alongside Canada and Mexico, opens its World Cup campaign against Paraguay on June 12 in Inglewood, California.
"It's a good reality check for us," Pochettino said of Saturday's result ahead of more meaningful challenges to come.
And he insisted he had no regrets about scheduling tuneups against two leading international sides.
"I think we need competitive games to arrive to the World Cup in our best," he said. "I think we can arrive with the wrong idea that we are so good, we are so handsome, we are so well-dressed and we are Americans.
"And it's good to feel that, but if we want to win the World Cup, if we want to go next to the next station in the group and we want to beat Paraguay, do you think that they are not going to fight?"
Injuries to Sergiño Dest, Chris Richards and Miles Robinson left the 15th-ranked U.S. short-handed in defense, while midfielder Tyler Adams was also unavailable. As a result, Tim Weah started at right back and was handed a tough afternoon by Belgium's Manchester City winger Jérémy Doku.
It was also a frustrating afternoon for Turner, the former No. 1 American goalkeeper who made his first appearance since last June. Left back Antonee Robinson was making his first appearance since Nov. 18, 2024, because of injury.
Belgium was missing striker Romelu Lukaku, midfielders Leandro Trossard and Hans Vanaken and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois because of injuries and fitness issues. The Red Devils play Mexico in Chicago on Tuesday.
ESPN's Jeff Carlisle and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
