USMNT Faces Depth Issues Months Before World Cup

Lack of roster depth exposed in 5-2 loss to Belgium

Mar. 29, 2026 at 1:56am

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The U.S. men's national team suffered a 5-2 defeat against Belgium on Saturday, despite taking an early lead. The loss highlighted the team's lack of depth, with key absences and inexperienced players struggling to maintain the intensity required against a top opponent. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino acknowledged the need for improvement, with the World Cup just months away.

Why it matters

The USMNT's performance against Belgium raises concerns about the team's ability to compete at the highest level if they are missing even one or two key players. The depth issues could limit the team's ceiling and chances of making a deep run in the upcoming World Cup on home soil.

The details

The USMNT started well, taking a 1-0 lead through a Weston McKennie goal, but Belgium responded with four unanswered second-half goals to win 5-2. Pochettino pointed to the team's inability to maintain the required intensity and rhythm as the main issue, with inexperienced players like Tanner Tessman struggling in the absence of injured starters like Chris Richards and Miles Robinson. Goalkeeper Matt Turner, who has lost his starting spot, also failed to impress, conceding nine goals in his last two games for the national team.

  • The USMNT lost 5-2 to Belgium on Saturday, March 25, 2026.

The players

Mauricio Pochettino

The head coach of the U.S. men's national team, who has been experimenting with the team's tactics and player pool in the lead-up to the World Cup.

Christian Pulisic

A mainstay of the USMNT, who returned to the team for the recent friendlies.

Antonee Robinson

A dynamic wingback for the USMNT, who made his long-awaited return from a knee injury.

Weston McKennie

The USMNT midfielder who scored the team's lone goal against Belgium.

Tyler Adams

The USMNT midfielder who missed the international break due to a short-term quadricep issue.

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What they’re saying

“For many moments of the game, I think we played with the rhythm and the speed that the game required. The problem was to keep that intensity ... That is the challenge and I think it's a good reality check for us.”

— Mauricio Pochettino, Head Coach, U.S. Men's National Team

“In situations where you have guys like Doku who can expose you in different ways, trying to get more guys out there to where he doesn't have the freedom to get close to our box and dribble and accelerate. Those are little things you can adjust in training. I think this is the first time we've played such a prolific winger like that.”

— Tim Weah, Forward, U.S. Men's National Team

“We just need to be more clinical in the final third on both sides and we needed to lay our bodies on the line a little bit more defensively. Of course, I wish I was able to make one or two more saves and absolutely, we all have to look into the mirror and be self-aware and evaluate ourselves and we can't hide from it. At the end of the day when you're on the pitch, there's nowhere to hide.”

— Matt Turner, Goalkeeper, U.S. Men's National Team

What’s next

The USMNT will have two to three weeks before the World Cup to put the players 'on the same level' and address the issues exposed in the loss to Belgium.

The takeaway

The USMNT's depth issues, highlighted by key absences and inexperienced players struggling against a top opponent like Belgium, raise concerns about the team's ceiling and chances of making a deep run in the upcoming World Cup. Pochettino acknowledged the need for improvement, with the tournament just months away.