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The U.S. men's national team exits the March international window without a single win or point to show for it, marking a frustrating week for a side looking to build momentum—not lose it—just weeks before the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home turf.
To be fair, the Stars and Stripes faced two of the planet's elite teams: Belgium and Portugal, ranked ninth and fifth in the world respectively. Still, with ambitions of a historic semifinal run this summer, the USMNT would have hoped to at least hold their own against the UEFA powerhouses.
Instead, the U.S. surrendered seven goals while scoring just two across both fixtures. Belgium humiliated the Americans 5–2 on Saturday, followed by Portugal edging them out 2–0 on Tuesday.
U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino must reassess his approach; however, the Argentine tactician isn't as disheartened by the friendlies as one might expect.
Pochettino's Reaction to the March International Window
"We have to play matches like this because even if it hurts, it's the only way to get better," Pochettino said after the game. "It's the only way to learn. It's the only way to see how these elite players and teams operate."
Pochettino identified positives in the team's overall competitive spirit, particularly in the opening halves of both contests.
"Today, I think we competed really well," Pochettino said following Tuesday's match. "Just like against Belgium, in the first half and 15–20 minutes of the second. It's in the small details where we lose the game."
The USMNT actually held a 1–0 lead over Belgium until the Europeans equalized in the dying moments of the first half. The U.S.'s high-pressing intensity in the opening period frequently put the Belgians under pressure. It wasn't until the second half that things unraveled for the Americans.
Similarly, against Portugal, the U.S. displayed a disciplined and organized first half, particularly defensively—clearly motivated to avoid another multi-goal collapse. Despite Portugal dominating possession for much of the match, the U.S. consistently made use of the ball when they had it, launching repeated attacks into the final third, even if they ultimately struggled to convert inside the box.
The USMNT has shown it can make rapid adjustments. By Tuesday, the Americans had already significantly overhauled their defensive structure and commitment to tracking runners across the pitch—key areas that had been neglected in the second half against Belgium. It was a brief defensive lapse on a swift counterattack that handed Portugal their opener in the 37th minute, while a poorly organized defensive setup from a corner kick gifted the Europeans their second in the 59th minute.
If the U.S. can learn to hold their defensive composure during quick transitions and from set pieces, while converting their frenzied efforts into composed finishes, a rematch of Tuesday's encounter could tell a very different story.
"I think we were competing well, but we still have a lot to learn," Pochettino said.
On the whole, the March camp was viewed as a success by the manager, who aims to finalize his World Cup squad by late May, when the USMNT plays its final two warm-up friendlies before the tournament against Senegal and Germany.
"I think this camp has been very positive," he added. " ... the next roster is going to be the one that will be involved. There are still many things we need to evaluate and monitor over the coming weeks.
"Yes, I am more optimistic now than before because watching the team compete, we are not far off. It's only the details that we need to address."