Belgium Dominate USA in Friendly; Mexico-Portugal Match Ends 0-0 Amid Tragedy Belgium delivered a crushing 5-2 victory over the United States in a high-stakes friendly ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, exposing vulnerabilities in the American squad as they prepare to co-host the tournament. The match, held in Atlanta, marked a stark reality check for manager Mauricio Pochettino’s team, who struggled to contain the Belgian attack despite an early goal from Weston McKennie. The result underscored the challenges the USA face in competing with elite European sides, a key requirement for their World Cup ambitions. Belgium’s onslaught began immediately after conceding the opening goal, with a flurry of goals from Zeno Debast, Amadou Onana, Charles De Ketelaere, and a brace from substitute Dodi Lukebakio. The visitors’ resilience was tested as they fell behind, but the Belgians capitalized on their dominance, overwhelming the USA’s defense. Patrick Agyemang netted a late consolation for the Americans, though the result highlighted their need for improvement ahead of the World Cup. Pochettino acknowledged the result as a necessary wake-up call, emphasizing the importance of facing such challenges before the tournament. The match also served as a prelude to the World Cup, with the USA set to face Portugal in another friendly on Tuesday. Portugal, however, faced its own challenges, as Cristiano Ronaldo and Rafael Leao missed the encounter. Despite Joao Felix and Goncalo Ramos coming close, the Portuguese struggled with accuracy, finishing with 10 shots on goal but failing to convert. Coach Roberto Martinez noted the team’s preparation for the World Cup, though he acknowledged the need for better finishing.#united_states #atlanta #world_cup_2026 #belgium #mauricio_pochettino
USMNT Struggles with Disjointed Tactics in Defeat to Belgium The U.S. men’s national team faced a stark reality check on Saturday as they suffered a 5-2 loss to Belgium, exposing deep flaws in their tactical approach and squad cohesion. The match, part of the 2026 World Cup qualifying cycle, highlighted the challenges of rebuilding a team under new management and the risks of overhauling personnel without sufficient preparation. Mauricio Pochettino, the new head coach, inherited a squad that had just exited the 2024 Copa América at the group stage. His tenure began with a focus on experimentation, introducing fresh combinations and players in search of a winning formula. While there were signs of progress last year, such as the adoption of a back-three formation and the integration of younger talents like Sebastian Berhalter and Patrick Agyemang, the recent match against Belgium revealed the limitations of this approach. The U.S. started the game with a goal, capitalizing on a well-executed corner kick. However, Belgium quickly turned the tide, scoring five unanswered goals in a dominant display. The first goal came from Zeno Debast, who capitalized on a defensive lapse as the U.S. struggled to organize its backline. The second goal, a well-timed strike by Amadou Onana, underscored the U.S.’s inability to contain Belgium’s attacking threats. Pochettino acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, noting that while they matched Belgium’s intensity at times, they failed to maintain consistency throughout the 90 minutes. “We were even, in some moments, we were better,” he admitted, but the scoreline told a different story. The U.S. defense, plagued by untested partnerships, allowed Belgium to exploit gaps in their shape.#belgium #usmnt #mauricio_pochettino #zeno_debast #amadou_onana
USMNT handed pre-World Cup 'reality check' in rout by Belgium The United States men’s national team faced a significant setback in its World Cup preparations as Belgium dominated the second half to secure a 5-2 victory at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday. The result marked the U.S.’s worst home defeat since an 8-1 loss to England in 1959, according to Opta. The match exposed defensive vulnerabilities and highlighted the challenges the team faces ahead of the tournament. The U.S. started strongly, with Weston McKennie scoring the opening goal in the 39th minute off a corner from Antonee Robinson. This was McKennie’s 12th international goal and his first in over three years. However, Belgium quickly responded with a long-range equalizer from Zeno Debast just before halftime. The visitors then surged ahead in the second half, scoring three goals within a 15-minute span to overwhelm the U.S. defense. Amadou Onana opened the scoring in the 53rd minute, followed by Charles De Ketelaere’s penalty in the 59th minute. Dodi Lukebakio extended Belgium’s lead with a curling shot into the top corner, and he added a second goal in the 82nd minute. U.S. substitute Patrick Agyemang scored in the 87th minute, but the damage was already done. Manager Luis Pochettino acknowledged the defeat as a necessary “reality check” for the team, emphasizing the importance of competitive matches to prepare for the World Cup. “We need to arrive at the World Cup in our best condition,” he said. “It’s good to feel that, but if we want to win the tournament, we need to face challenges like this.” Pochettino also praised the U.S.’s first-half performance, noting they played better than Belgium but conceded late in the first half, which disrupted their momentum.#belgium #usmnt #luis_pochettino #christian_pulisic #patrick_agyemang
Corporate Fleets as the Key to Electrifying Europe Corporate fleets could play a pivotal role in accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) across Europe, according to a report by EY. The study highlights that transitioning company vehicles—ranging from cars to delivery vans and trucks—could significantly reduce emissions while delivering substantial economic benefits. With fleets already dominating Europe’s vehicle market, accounting for approximately 60% of new car sales and over 70% of new-car CO₂ emissions, electrifying these fleets could drive faster decarbonization of road transport compared to focusing solely on private car buyers. The report estimates that shifting corporate fleets to electric vehicles could generate €246 billion in operating cost savings by 2030, primarily due to lower fuel and maintenance expenses. Electrification could also replace 85–95 billion litres of diesel with electricity, cutting fuel costs by up to €140 billion while avoiding around one billion tonnes of CO₂ emissions. Fleet vehicles, which cover the most kilometres annually, are seen as a critical pathway to reducing emissions more rapidly than targeting individual consumers. Operating costs for EVs are already becoming more competitive. Electric company cars offer about 33% lower operating costs than diesel equivalents, while electric vans can reduce costs by up to 40% thanks to cheaper energy prices and simpler maintenance. Globally, electric mobility is reaching a turning point, with 23.7 million EVs sold in 2025—representing 26% of global car sales. In Europe, battery electric vehicles briefly surpassed petrol cars in monthly registrations for the first time in December 2025.#electric_vehicles #china #european_commission #ey #belgium
