ATLANTA (March 28, 2026) – In the first of the final two-match set before head coach Mauricio Pochettino selects his roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. Men’s National Team delivered a strong first-half performance but eventually fell to ninth-ranked Belgium, a team that hasn’t lost since March 2025, 5-2 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
More than 66,867 roaring fans in attendance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, in the heart of downtown Atlanta, created a world-class atmosphere, giving soccer fans around the country – and around the globe – a preview of what is in store this summer when the World Cup arrives on home soil. Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which will be known as Atlanta Stadium for the tournament, will host eight World Cup matches, including a semifinal.
The starting XI for the USMNT, debuting the newly released Stripes kit, featured six of the seven most experienced players on the roster. The most-capped player in camp, forward Christian Pulisic, earning his 83rd cap, featured alongside Weston McKennie, Matt Turner, Antonee Robinson, Tim Weah and captain Tim Ream.
Notably, Antonee “Jedi” Robinson appeared in the starting lineup, marking his first appearance in 495 days, since November 18, 2024, in the 4-2 Concacaf Nations League Quarterfinal win against Jamaica. The fullback missed the entirety of international duty in 2025 due to injury.
Robinson looked sharp and was part of the action early, making long throw-ins and pushing high up the left flank, and it was the fullback who recorded the first shot on goal for the U.S. With space outside the box, Robinson stepped into midfielder Malik Tillman's pass following a short corner. The fullback delivered a sweet strike from 25 yards out on frame that forced a save from Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
The USMNT attack looked ambitious in the first half, forcing Lammens to make a few more massive saves. In the 17th minute, Tillman’s delivery on a corner kick from the left flag traveled to McKennie unmarked on the far post. The midfielder struck a firm, close-range volley on target, but Lammens made the block. Later, the U.S. nearly capitalized when Tillman intercepted a Belgium pass deep in their attacking third. Tillman fed Folarin Balogun inside the box, but once again Lammens blocked the striker’s low shot on frame.
In the 39th minute, the USMNT scored the opening goal of the match on a corner kick. From the right flag, Robinson swerved a kick toward the far post. McKennie, who nearly scored off a corner kick earlier in the match, connected this time, jumping to meet Robinson’s kick and tucked the ball with control into the net with the inside of his right foot. American supporters in attendance, many sporting the new Stars and Stripes jerseys, erupted in excitement.
It looked like the USMNT would head into the locker room with a 1-0 lead, but Belgium equalized right before halftime. Turner, earning his first cap since June 10, 2025, initially blocked Belgium forward Jérémy Doku’s shot from the left side of the box. Turner's punch-out traveled outside the 18 toward the right side of the pitch, landing at the feet of Belgium defender Zeno Debast. With his first touch, Debast struck a low knuckleball into the far, left side netting to level the match.
With 11 substitutions allowed, a number both sides agreed on prior to the match, Pochettino made his first change at halftime, sending on midfielder Cristian Roldan to replace starting midfielder Johnny Cardoso. It was Cardoso’s his first cap since June 22, 2025, when the USMNT defeated Haiti in the Concacaf Gold Cup.
Moments after a chance for Pulisic, Belgium moved the ball end-to-end and scored the go-ahead goal in the 53rd minute behind the first international goal for midfielder Amadou Onana.
Two minutes later, Belgium extended its lead. Turner made back-to-back saves to hold off RodeDuivels in the run of play. With the referee signaling for a handball inside the box, VAR confirmed the handball and midfielder Charles De Ketelaere converted the penalty kick for Belgium.
Winger Dodi Lukébakio scored twice in the 68th and 82nd minutes to give Belgium its fourth and fifth goals.
The USMNT would pull one goal back behind a pair of second-half substitutes. Forward Ricardo Pepi, who subbed on in the 71st minute, applied pressure to force a Belgian takeaway deep in the USMNT’s attacking third. Forward Patrick Agyemang, who also entered the match in the second half, cleaned it up with his right foot to cut into the deficit.
The USMNT returns to action for a highly anticipated matchup against sixth-ranked and World Cup-bound Portugal, presented by Bank of America, on Tuesday, March 31. Kickoff is 7 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
USA –WESTON MCKENNIE (ANTONEE ROBINSON), 39th minute: From the right corner flag, Robinson served a left-footed kick into the box. McKennie timed his run perfectly, slipping in behind a crowd of Belgian defenders inside the box and rose to meet Robinson’s swerving kick. McKennie used the inside of his foot to tuck the ball into frame on one bounce. USA 1, BEL 0
BEL – ZENO DEBAST,45th minute: The rebound from Jérémy Doku’s blocked shot traveled to Debast beyond the box. The defender struck the ball first-time from about 25 yards out on the right side of the pitch. The low, well-placed shot bounced a few times through traffic and into the left side netting. USA 1, BEL 1
BEL – AMADOU ONANA (CHARLES DE KETELAERE), 53rd minute: Belgium moved the ball from one end of the pitch to the other following a goal kick. Doku pushed the ball toward goal with his dribble. From just outside the six-yard box, De Ketelaere popped the ball centrally to Onana. He ran on for a pacey shot a step inside the 18-yard box, which rolled into the lower left-hand corner of the goal. USA 1, BEL 2
BEL –CHARLES DE KETELAERE, 59th minute: The official called a handball on the U.S. inside the box. After VAR, Belgium was awarded a penalty kick. De Ketelaere converted, driving a shot into the upper left corner of the net to extend the lead for Belgium. USA 1, BEL 3
BEL – DODI LUKÉBAKIO(THOMAS MEUNIER), 68th minute: Operating in the right channel, Meunier kicked the ball out wide to Lukébakio. The winger took his defender 1v1 to set up a left-footed strike about 16 yards from goal. His shot curled into the left side of the net. USA 1, BEL 4
BEL – DODI LUKÉBAKIO, 82nd minute: Working on the right side of the pitch, Belgium moved the ball in a dangerous area. A cross into the box caught a deflection and landed right in front of Lukébakio. The winger’s low shot from 10 yards out on the right side of the box rolled into the back, right side of the net. USA 1, BEL 5
USA – PATRICK AGYEMANG (RICARDO PEPI), 87th minute: Pepi chased as Belgium’s defense worked the ball around. The striker’s pressure created a takeaway and popped the ball into free space for Agyemang to run on. With his right foot, Agyemang slotted the ball home from about nine yards from goal into the far-right corner. USA 2, BEL 5
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Match: United States Men’s National Team vs. Belgium
Date: March 28, 2026
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium; Atlanta, Ga.
Attendance: 66,867
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
Weather: Indoors
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | F |
| USA | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| BEL | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| USA – Weston McKennie (Antonee Robinson) | 39th minute |
| BEL– Zeno Debast | 45 |
| BEL– Amadou Onana | 53 |
| BEL– Charles De Ketelaere (penalty kick) | 59 |
| BEL– Dodi Lukebakio (Thomas Meunier) | 68 |
| BEL– Dodi Lukebakio (Thomas Meunier) | 82 |
| USA – Patrick Agyemang (Ricardo Pepi) | 87 |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Matt Turner; 21-Tim Weah (14-Sebastian Berhalter, 64), 22-Mark McKenzie, 13-Tim Ream (capt.), 5-Antonee Robinson (18-Max Arfsten, 64); 6-Tanner Tessmann (16-Alex Freeman, 64), 15-Johnny Cardoso (4-Cristian Roldan, 46); 8-Weston McKennie (7-Gio Reyna, 70), 17-Malik Tillman (19-Joe Scally, 71), 10-Christian Pulisic (9-Ricardo Pepi, 71),; 20-Folarin Balogun (25-Patrick Agyemang, 71)
Substitutes: 24-Matt Freese, 26-Chris Brady, 27-Patrick Schulte, 2-Auston Trusty, 11-Brenden Aaronson, 23-Aidan Morris
Head coach: Mauricio Pochettino
BEL: 1- Senne Lammens; Thomas Meunier (21-Timothy Castagne, 70), 2-Zeno Debast, 4-Brandon Mechele (3-Arthur Theate, 63), 5-Maxim De Cuyper (18-Joacquin Seys, 62); 24-Amadou Onana (25-Nathan De Cat, 70), 23-Nicolas Raskin (6-Axel Witsel, 70); 22-Alexis Saelemakers (14-Dodi Lukebakio, 63),7-Kevin De Bruyne (capt.) (8-Youri Tielemans, 70), 11-Jeremy Doku (26-Mika Godts, 70); 17-Charles De Ketelaere (9-Lois Openda, 62)
Substitutes: 12-Maarten Vandevoordt, 13-Matz Sels, 16-Koni De Winter 19-Lucas Stassin, 20-Nathan Ngoy
Head coach: Rudi Garcia
Stats Summary: USA / BEL
Shots: 12 / 21
Shots on Goal: 5 / 10
Saves: 5 / 3
Corner Kicks: 6 / 6
Fouls: 8 / 10
Offsides: 1 / 3
| Misconduct Summary | |
| USA– Weston McKennie (Caution) | 19th minute |
| USA—Joe Scally (Caution) | 81 |
Officials:
Referee: Esteban Ostojich (URU)
Assistant 1: Horacio Ferreiro (URU)
Assistant 2: Pablo Llarena (URU)
Fourth Official: Alberto Feres (URU)
VAR 1: Tatiana Guzman (NCA)
VAR 2: Benjamin Pineda (CRC)