U.S. Men's Soccer Team Struggles in Pre-World Cup Friendlies

Losses to Belgium and Portugal raise concerns ahead of the 2026 World Cup

Apr. 1, 2026 at 1:49am by Ben Kaplan

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The U.S. men's national soccer team suffered disappointing losses to Belgium and Portugal in pre-World Cup friendly matches, raising doubts about their readiness for the upcoming tournament. The team was outscored 7-2 in the two games, leading to criticism of their lack of aggression, poor defense, and uninspiring effort.

Why it matters

As one of the host nations for the 2026 World Cup, the U.S. team was expected to be a contender. However, these recent losses to top European teams have shaken confidence in the team's ability to perform well in the tournament. The results also raise questions about the team's preparation and the decision to change coaches midway through the last cycle.

The details

In the first match against Belgium, the U.S. lost 5-2, with the team being criticized for a lack of fight and poor defensive play. In the second match against Portugal, the U.S. put up more of a fight but still fell 2-0. Both games were played in Atlanta, which was supposed to provide a home-field advantage for the Americans.

  • The U.S. team lost 5-2 to Belgium on Saturday, March 29, 2026.
  • The U.S. team lost 2-0 to Portugal on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

The players

Mauricio Pochettino

The head coach of the U.S. men's national soccer team.

Max Arfsten

A player on the U.S. men's national soccer team.

Matt Freese

The goalkeeper for the U.S. men's national soccer team.

Christian Pulisic

A player on the U.S. men's national soccer team.

Francisco Trincao

A player on the Portuguese national soccer team.

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What they’re saying

“When I talk about this team, I talk about (making the) quarterfinals or it's a failure; it's not a good World Cup for us. We're tired of being OK. Of 'Yeah we got out of the group but we lost.' No, no, no, no. No more.”

— Marcelo Balboa, Former U.S. national team player and FIFA ambassador

“We've lost that American spirit that has kept us in games we had no business being in, for decades. The irony is that from a talent and skill set we're as good as we've ever been.”

— Landon Donovan, Former U.S. national team player and podcast host

“These were the last games before Pochettino will announce his final roster on May 26. Despite Pochettino's earlier words, the World Cup really begins in 73 days. Will the U.S. team be ready?”

— Ann Killion, Sports columnist

What’s next

The U.S. team will announce its final 23-man roster for the 2026 World Cup on May 26, just 73 days before the start of the tournament. The team's performance in these pre-World Cup friendlies has raised concerns about their readiness and ability to compete at the highest level.

The takeaway

The U.S. men's national soccer team's struggles in their pre-World Cup friendlies against Belgium and Portugal have exposed vulnerabilities and raised doubts about their ability to succeed in the 2026 tournament. The team's lack of aggression, poor defensive play, and uninspiring effort have led to criticism and questions about their preparation and coaching changes. With the World Cup just around the corner, the U.S. team must quickly address these issues to have a chance of meeting the high expectations placed on them as one of the host nations.