The United States started strong but quickly faltered.
Following an impressive autumn where manager Mauricio Pochettino guided his team to notable victories against Paraguay and Uruguay, the U.S. kicked off a friendly match against Belgium with energy, taking an early 1-0 lead in the 39th minute after an action-packed first half-hour.
However, soccer is a full 90-minute game. Belgium quickly equalized before halftime and seized control, scoring five consecutive goals. They found the net with a long-range hit, a penalty kick, a stunning individual effort, and a goal that capitalized on a defensive blunder, leading to a 5-2 defeat for the U.S.
This loss serves as a wake-up call for the Americans as they prepare for their ambitious goals in the upcoming home World Cup.
Earlier this month, Pochettino emphasized the potential for inspiration from past World Cup overachievers, such as South Korea, who made it to the semifinals in 2002, and Morocco, which captivated audiences in Qatar last year.
Yet against one of the world’s elite teams, the U.S. simply fell short.
“We lacked the aggression to maintain our momentum throughout the match,” Pochettino noted in the press conference after the game. “This is a valuable reality check for us. It’s crucial to experience these moments in order to grow. We do need to improve, but also, it’s just one match where circumstances did not favor us.”
The U.S. struggled to keep pace with Belgium in the second half. The European team’s standout, Jeremy Doku, repeatedly advanced down the left flank, where he faced Timothy Weah. Typically an attacker, Weah has occasionally been placed in a defensive position for both his club, Olympique Marseille, and previous U.S. games, yet he couldn’t halt Doku from generating scoring chances.
The U.S. contributed to its own downfall as well. In the 53rd minute, it seemed they cleared a chance from Doku’s run, but Malik Tillman chose not to challenge a shot from Amadou Onana, allowing the ball to reach goalkeeper Matt Turner, who couldn’t stop it. This made the score 2-1 in favor of Belgium, just after Christian Pulisic, the American star, missed a pivotal opportunity, finishing the match with three shots all missing the target.
Belgium extended their lead to 3-1 after a penalty kick was awarded following a handball by veteran center back Tim Ream during a sequence where Turner had made a remarkable double save before facing Charles De Ketelaere from 18 yards.
Dodi Lukébakio then took center stage. Coming on as a substitute in the 62nd minute, he faced U.S. substitute Max Arfsten and, five minutes later, controlled the ball skillfully before placing a left-footed shot into the far corner.
Lukébakio scored again in the 82nd minute after capitalizing on a misclearance by second-half substitute Sebastian Berhalter, deepening the U.S. struggles.
This match illustrates the fine margins that separate elite teams. A strong performance in just a half-hour won’t suffice; consistently excellent play is necessary. While Belgium wasn’t at its peak, they convincingly outperformed the U.S.—a concerning sign for the Americans as they prepare to face tournament powerhouses like Spain, Argentina, or France.
Clearly, the U.S. is not at the same depth as Belgium, with the game’s flow shifting as substitutions were made. Players like midfielder Johnny Cardoso, who was substituted at halftime, and left back Jedi Robinson, who exited in the 64th minute, would likely play the full match in a knockout-stage World Cup. However, can they compete with teams that can substitute players like Lukébakio into the mix?
There are reasons, however, to believe there is still hope for the U.S. Weston McKennie made a commendable return after missing prior matches, showing exceptional energy and opening the scoring. The team was missing prominent center back Chris Richards due to a knee injury and fellow center back Miles Robinson also could not play due to an injury sustained prior to camp. Midfielder Tyler Adams, who was absent from training, is expected to return for the World Cup, and fullback Sergino Dest may recover from a hamstring ailment in time for the tournament. It’s notable that Belgium also played without some key players.
“Today was a tough experience; we entered the game eager to win, but it didn’t materialize,” Weah stated to TNT Sports after the match. “This is the ideal time for a setback because the World Cup is on the horizon. We aim to improve and work hard in training to prepare for the next challenge.”
The next challenge is a friendly against Portugal, which has newfound significance. Securing a solid result against another top-10 team could foster belief within the team and among fans that this loss was just a misstep, and that a deep run in the tournament is still achievable.
Another result like this could damage confidence and leave fans doubting the U.S.’s ability to start strong when it truly matters this summer.
