With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, the U.S. men’s national team’s debut this year began on a sour note after being routed 5-2 by Belgium in Atlanta on Saturday.
The U.S. had a 4-0-1 record in its final five matches last year and looked to be in form Saturday when Weston McKennie gave the Americans the lead in the 39th minute.
Then, everything unraveled quickly on goals by Zeno Debast in the 45th, Amadou Onana in the 53rd and a penalty from Charles De Ketelaere in the 59th before Dodi Lukebakio increased the advantage in the 68th and 82nd minutes.
Patrick Agyemang made it 5-2 in the 87th after a Ricardo Pepi takeaway in front of the Belgium goal.
The U.S. opens World Cup play on June 12 vs. Paraguay, but coach Mauricio Pochettino is more concerned with the match against Portugal on Tuesday, also in Atlanta, which will be his final chance for evaluation within the U.S. structure.
After that, the U.S. will not take the field again before the roster is announced May 26. Three days later, the Americans play Senegal in Charlotte, with the final tune-up June 6 in Chicago versus Germany.
McKennie claimed the lead off a corner kick by Antonee Robinson when he sliced between two defenders, leapt, then redirected the ball with the inside of his right foot for his 12th international but first in three years.
Robinson, who did not play for the U.S. in 2025 because of injuries, made his first appearance since Nov. 18, 2024, and was active from the start.
He drilled a shot from distance that forced a save by Senne Lammens in the ninth minute. The Manchester United keeper also denied a close-range shot by McKennie in the 17th.
Debast scored his first goal with a low knuckler from 25 yards to the lower left corner after the initial save by Matt Turner on Jeremy Doku traveled outside the box, where he immediately sent it back.
Onana scored from the top of the box for the lead, and De Ketelaere converted from the spot after Tim Ream’s handball. The defense was in disarray for the final two goals with Belgium roaming freely in the box.
–Field Level Media
