Belgium defeated World Cup co-hosts United States 5-2 in an international friendly at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday. Weston McKennie gave the hosts an early lead, but Belgium responded with five unanswered goals after halftime. The result underscores the USA's inconsistent form under manager Mauricio Pochettino ahead of the June tournament.
The match kicked off at 3:30 p.m. local time, with the USA missing injured players Tyler Adams, Haji Wright, Sergino Dest, and Roman Celentano. Mauricio Pochettino's side lined up with Matt Turner in goal, captained by Tim Ream, and featuring stars Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Antonee Robinson in the starting XI: Turner, Robinson, Tessmann, McKennie, Pulisic, Ream, Cardoso, Tillman, Balogun, Weah, McKenzie. Substitutes included Patrick Agyemang and Ricardo Pepi among others. The USA entered unbeaten in their last five games, including a 5-1 win over Uruguay in November, and have four matches left before facing Paraguay on June 13 in the World Cup opener. Belgium, ranked ninth by FIFA and managed by Rudi Garcia since January 2025, welcomed back Kevin De Bruyne as captain after injury. Absent were Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois, and Leandro Trossard, with Senne Lammens in goal. Their lineup was Lammens, Debast, Mechele, De Cuyper, Meunier, Raskin, Onana, Doku, Saelemaekers, De Bruyne, De Ketelaere. The first half was even. Antonee Robinson forced a save from Lammens after interplay with Pulisic and Tillman. McKennie headed in from a corner on 37 minutes after a De Ketelaere goal was disallowed for handball, but Zeno Debast equalized with a long-range strike just before halftime. After the break, Pulisic missed a chance, but Amadou Onana scored from the edge of the box, assisted by Saelemaekers via Doku. Charles de Ketelaere converted a penalty after Ream's handball. Substitute Dodi Lukebakio added two more goals. Patrick Agyemang scored a late consolation for the USA after Pepi dispossessed Youri Tielemans. Belgium have lost just once under Garcia. The USA have not beaten European opposition since 2021.
