U.S. Faces Defeat Against Belgium Ahead of World Cup

The U.S. men’s national soccer team started its season with a disappointing 5-2 loss to Belgium in Atlanta on Saturday, ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Last year, the team had a strong finish with a record of 4 wins, 0 losses, and 1 draw in their last five matches, and they seemed confident when Weston McKennie scored the opening goal in the 39th minute.

However, the game took a turn as Belgium quickly responded with goals from Zeno Debast in the 45th minute, Amadou Onana in the 53rd, and Charles De Ketelaere, who scored a penalty in the 59th. Dodi Lukebakio then extended Belgium’s lead with two more goals in the 68th and 82nd minutes.

Patrick Agyemang managed to score for the U.S. in the 87th minute after stealing the ball in front of Belgium’s goal, making it 5-2.

The U.S. is set to begin World Cup play on June 12 against Paraguay. Coach Mauricio Pochettino is focused on the upcoming match against Portugal on Tuesday in Atlanta, which will serve as his last opportunity to assess the team before the roster announcement on May 26. The Americans will then face Senegal on May 29 in Charlotte, followed by a final match against Germany on June 6 in Chicago.

McKennie’s goal came from a corner kick taken by Antonee Robinson, where he jumped between two defenders to redirect the ball with his right foot, marking his 12th international goal and his first in three years.

Robinson made his return after missing the entire 2025 season due to injuries and was active from the start of the match. In the ninth minute, he fired a shot from long range, forcing a save from Belgium’s goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who also denied a close-range attempt from McKennie in the 17th minute.

Debast scored his first international goal with a long-range shot that found its way past the U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner, who initially saved a shot from Jeremy Doku. Onana then gave Belgium the lead with a shot from the edge of the box, and De Ketelaere scored from the penalty spot following a handball by Tim Ream. The U.S. defense struggled to contain Belgium during the late stages of the match, allowing for two more unhindered goals.