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The USMNT suffered a humiliating 5–2 defeat to Belgium in Saturday's international friendly at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, a troubling result for a team hoping to be in peak form with the 2026 World Cup just over 70 days away.
It was a stunning and sobering wake-up call for the U.S., who had put together a respectable first-half display and even broke the deadlock through a leaping volley from USMNT standout Weston McKennie in the 39th minute. The hosts fell apart completely in the second half, however, with Belgium ruthless in demonstrating why they sit ninth in the FIFA World Rankings.
Pochettino's side, who had gone unbeaten across their previous five matches, must now go back to the drawing board, puzzling over how a game they dominated for the opening 45 minutes spiraled so dramatically out of control. Saturday marked the first time the USMNT had conceded five goals since June 2024—28 matches ago—and the first such occasion under the Pochettino era.
The team will look for a full reset before facing another European powerhouse, No. 7 Portugal, on Tuesday.
USMNT Fullbacks Were the Spark Plug Early
Although Mauricio Pochettino moved away from the three-back setup that had become his squad's trademark last fall—opting instead for a 4–2–3–1 against Belgium—the Argentine manager still managed to extract the attack-minded advantages that a three-back system typically provides.
The fullbacks, Tim Weah on the right and Antonee Robinson on the left, were active and dynamic along both flanks, transitioning into wingbacks during attacking phases to spark counterattacks, a tactic that proved effective throughout the first half.
The electric Robinson, in particular, set the tone with high-energy pressing and forward runs from the opening whistle. Despite making his first appearance for the Stars and Stripes since November 2024—nearly 500 days prior—the Fulham defender looked assured and commanding within the squad. He made three decisive runs into the final third in just the opening 11 minutes, establishing a tempo that the entire U.S. side quickly embraced to assert control over Belgium in the first half.
Weah—who has grown comfortable in the fullback role at his new club Marseille—was equally explosive along the touchline on multiple occasions, building simple but effective combinations with Christian Pulisic. Impressively, he still found the energy to track back defensively and engage in one-on-one duels against Manchester City winger Jérémy Doku.
Defensive Issues Soon Surfaced
Weah did a commendable job of tracking back to contain Belgian star Doku on the U.S.'s right flank, despite his constant involvement in the attack; however, a player of Doku's quality should never be left to the defensive responsibilities of a single player for extended periods, let alone an attacking wingback with significant offensive duties.
The entire backline needed to not only provide better coverage of Doku but also better anticipate the passes he was inevitably—and dangerously—always going to deliver. While Doku failed to get on the scoresheet himself, he was directly involved in Belgium's first and second goals—the most damaging for the U.S.'s subsequent collapse—initiating play by driving down the flank and whipping crosses into the box. A similar issue, though to a lesser extent, arose whenever any Belgian player delivered a cross into the box: attackers were left completely unmarked in front of goal.
In a similar vein, the U.S. midfielders lacked defensive cohesion. They were frequently absent during Belgium's—and Doku's—rapid counterattacks, easily bypassed as Belgium penetrated the final third. The midfielders' defensive lapses, which regularly left a gap in front of the backline, likely contributed to the defensive unit's disorganization.
On another note, the defense was careless in protecting their goal line in the first half, surrendering far too many corner kicks (five); though they did manage to tighten that aspect up in the second half, if little else.
Why Did They Fold So Easily?
The USMNT looked so impressive in the first half that it was nearly impossible to identify which side was ranked in the FIFA World Rankings top ten. Many observers would have pointed to the Stars and Stripes.
They established the tempo early with relentless intensity, driven by Robinson; won aerial duels consistently and repeatedly pushed deep into Belgium's final third. The Americans were sharp, tenacious, and composed, and once they went ahead 1–0, it appeared they were on course to enter the World Cup—just over 70 days away—brimming with confidence.
Even when Belgian defender Zeno Debast leveled the score in the dying moments of the first half, it didn't appear to unsettle the U.S. side. The Americans had done a solid job of clearing their lines; Debast's effort was simply a sublime strike, curling perfectly into the top corner from nearly 30 yards out.
So what went wrong in the second half? It always feels unfair to single out the goalkeeper; however, defensive and midfield disorganization aside, USMNT veteran shot-stopper Matt Turner visibly lost his composure following goals No. 2 and No. 3, with just over 30 minutes remaining.
Turner had actually delivered a solid first-half performance. He was composed and reliable between the posts, despite Saturday being his first USMNT start since last June, having been displaced in the regular starting lineup by Matt Freese. Turner produced his finest moment in the 56th minute with two consecutive acrobatic saves, coming just minutes after Belgium had taken a 2–1 lead and seemingly signaling that the Americans would mount a comeback; however, Belgium were soon awarded a penalty for an apparent handball by center back Tim Ream, and Turner unraveled from that point. Panic was written across his face, as he appeared to watch his chances of securing a starting berth at the World Cup slip away before him.
The one player determined to fight back against Belgium's second-half onslaught was striker Patrick Agyemang, who came on for Folarin Balogun in the 71st minute. The Derby County forward reduced the deficit with a goal in the 87th minute.