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
