The US is defeated by Belgium in the preparation for the World Cup

With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, the US men’s national team’s debut this year started on a sour note after being defeated 5-2 by Belgium in Atlanta on Saturday.

The US had a 4-0-1 record in its last five games last year and looked to be in good form on Saturday when Weston McKennie put the Americans ahead in the 39th minute.

Everything quickly fell apart after that with goals from Zeno Debast in the 45th, Amadou Onana in the 53rd and a Charles De Ketelaere penalty in the 59th before Dodi Lukebakio increased the lead in the 68th and 82nd minutes.

Patrick ⁠Agyemang made it 5-2 in the 87th after a Ricardo Pepi clearance in front of the Belgian goal.

The US opens its World Cup match on June 12 against Paraguay. But coach Mauricio Pochettino is more concerned about Tuesday’s match against Portugal, also in Atlanta, which will be his last chance for evaluation within the American structure.

After that, the US will not take the field again until the roster is announced on May 26. Three days later, the Americans will play Senegal in Charlotte, with the final game on June 6 in Chicago against Germany.

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McKennie claimed the lead after an Antonee Robinson corner when he cut between two defenders, jumped and then re-aimed the ball with the inside of his right foot for his twelfth international, but first in three years.

Robinson, who did not play for the US in 2025 due to injuries, made his first appearance since November 18, 2024 and was active from the start.

He drilled a shot from distance that forced a save from Senne ‌Lammens in the ninth minute. The Manchester United goalkeeper also denied a close-range shot from McKennie in the 17th.

Debast scored his first goal with a low knuckle strike from 25 yards into the bottom left corner after Matt’s initial save ⁠Turner on Jeremy Doku traveled outside the penalty area, where he immediately returned the ball.

Onana scored from the top of the penalty area for the lead, and De Ketelaere converted from the spot after Tim Ream’s handball. The last two goals saw the defense in disarray, with Belgium running freely in the penalty area.

Published on March 29, 2026