The United States of Argentinian coach Mauricio Pochettino were humiliated by Rudi Garcia’s Belgium 5-2 on Saturday in Atlanta, 75 days before the start of the 2026 World Cup which they will play at home. The hopes of a good run surrounding “Team USA” for its World Cup, co-organized with Mexico and Canada, were slightly dampened in front of 67,000 people.
“We need matches against great teams to arrive at the World Cup at our best level,” Pochettino wanted to play down the drama. “We could make the mistake of seeing ourselves as too beautiful, “we Americans are strong”. It’s good to have confidence but if we want to win the World Cup we have to get through the first round, and you think that Paraguay is not going to fight?” added the former coach of Tottenham and Paris SG.
Kevin de Bruyne takes charge of the game
Protected by a seeded status as organizers, the United States inherited a seemingly affordable Group D with Paraguay, Australia, and the winner of the play-off between Kosovo and Turkey. Saturday’s match is a good return to earth, even if everything started well with the opening score of Weston McKennie (39th), left alone on a corner after a first similar opportunity saved by Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
But the Belgian midfielder led by Kevin de Bruyne took the game in hand and rained down goals on Matt Turner’s cage. Defender Zeno Debast first equalized with a long shot at ground level (45th), then Amadou Onana allowed the Red Devils to take the advantage with a strike from the middle of the area (53rd), helped by a lot of work from Jérémy Doku and the laxity of the US defense.
Whistles from the audience
Charles de Ketelaere converted a penalty (59th) before Rudi Garcia changed his ten field players between the 60th and 70th. Dodi Lukébakio took the opportunity to score a double with a delicious curling shot from the left (68th) then taking a cross after another lack of bite from the defense (82nd). A big Belgian defensive error allowed the Americans to limit the damage with Patrick Agyemang (87th), without stopping the whistles from the public.
The United States faces Portugal on Tuesday, again in Atlanta.
Portugal held to a draw in Mexico
Portugal, deprived of its goal machine Cristiano Ronaldo, stalled on Saturday in a friendly match against a strong Mexican team (0-0) at the Azteca stadium in Mexico. The capital’s public rose as one at the final whistle, celebrating a victorious draw against the Portuguese, potential title contenders at the World Cup.
