USMNT Crushed 5-2 by Belgium in Embarrassing Defeat

Pochettino's side crumbles in second half against one of world's top teams

Mar. 28, 2026 at 10:37pm

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The U.S. men's national team suffered a humiliating 5-2 defeat against Belgium on Saturday, exposing a significant gap in quality between the two sides. After taking an early lead through Weston McKennie, the USMNT collapsed in the second half as Belgium scored four unanswered goals to cruise to victory.

Why it matters

This result serves as a major wake-up call for Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT ahead of the World Cup later this year. The team's inability to respond to adversity and the defensive lapses that led to Belgium's onslaught raise serious concerns about their readiness to compete at the highest level.

The details

The USMNT started brightly and took the lead through McKennie's header, but Belgium equalized before halftime. In the second half, the wheels completely fell off as Amadou Onana, Charles De Ketelaere and a brace from Dodi Lukébakio overwhelmed the American defense. A late goal from Patrick Agyemang made the final score a bit more respectable, but the damage had already been done.

  • The USMNT struck first in the 25th minute through Weston McKennie's header.
  • Belgium equalized just before halftime through a goal from Zeno Debast.
  • Belgium scored four unanswered goals in the second half to run away with the match.

The players

Weston McKennie

The USMNT midfielder scored the opening goal to give his team an early lead.

Zeno Debast

The Belgian defender equalized just before halftime to spark his team's comeback.

Amadou Onana

The Belgian midfielder scored the go-ahead goal early in the second half to put his team in front.

Dodi Lukébakio

The Belgian forward scored a brace in the second half to extend his team's lead.

Patrick Agyemang

The USMNT substitute scored a late goal to make the final score 5-2.

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What they’re saying

“We must learn from this experience and come back stronger. There is still work to be done before the World Cup.”

— Mauricio Pochettino, USMNT Head Coach

What’s next

The USMNT will have two more friendlies before the World Cup, where they will look to address the defensive issues exposed in this match.

The takeaway

This embarrassing defeat serves as a harsh reality check for the USMNT, highlighting the significant work that Pochettino and his team must do to be competitive at the World Cup. The second-half collapse raises serious concerns about the team's mental toughness and ability to respond to adversity.