National team needs quick improvment

By Josh Ortega

The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) struggled in its penultimate pair of international friendlies before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The U.S. suffered losses to both Belgium and Portugal during last week’s international break at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, although neither match holds weight. They are merely exhibition games and have no impact on the tournament in terms of points or seeding. 

With the countdown clock ticking down for the World Cup, the recent results against European powerhouses left a plethora of questions for USMNT Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino on how his side will fare against the premier competition of the tournament. 

In the first match against Belgium, the U.S. started strong, scoring first and taking the lead in the 39th minute thanks to midfielder and North Texas native Weston McKennie. Belgium would eventually find an equalizer just before halftime. Belgium came out of the break and blew down the barn doors. 

Belgium scored three of its four goals in the second half within 15 minutes toward the midway point of the half. Belgium capitalized on the U.S. space on the wing, putting pressure on the defense in isolated one-on-one positions to create scoring opportunities on goal. The USMNT would grab a late consolation goal via forward Patrick Agyemang in the 87th minute, but it came all too late as the U.S. fell 5-2. 

Pochettino said after the loss against Belgium that his side played well, but the lack of collective intensity for a full 90 minutes was what hurt the U.S. in the second half against a team like Belgium. 

“It’s clear that when we play against two teams like Belgium and Portugal, we wanted to feel this. We knew it wouldn’t be easy against Belgium or Portugal,” said Pochettino. “I think that the first half was good. We had nice moments in play where we found each other very well in all the explosive areas against Belgium.”

The challenge for sustained intensity did pass over to the second match against Portugal. Once again, the U.S. started strong, creating a barrage of scoring chances. It was on the defensive side where the U.S. struggled. The team went down 1-0 in the 37th minute after Portugal picked up a loose ball in the middle of the field and played in midfielder Bruno Fernandes for a scoring chance. Fernandes knifed through the U.S. defense backheeling a through ball to forward Francisco Trincão, who buried the ball into the back of the net to give Portugal the lead going into halftime. 

Fernandes would also be involved during Portugal’s second goal as he launched a cross off a corner kick to forward João Félix, who was unmarked at the top of the box and volleyed the ball off his right foot and into the back of the net to double the lead. 

As in the first game, the U.S. would continue to create chances but would not find the back of the net, falling to Portugal 2-0. Pochettino again mentioned that, despite the results of the match against Portugal, the loss would be taken as an important learning experience down the line as the team prepares for more games. 

“We have to play games like this,” said Pochettino. “Even if it’s painful, it’s the only way to improve, to learn, to see how these top players and teams compete.”

Where and how will this team improve with less than 100 days before Pochettino’s team takes the field on the world’s biggest stage? 

The numbers from both matches suggest the first is on offense, particularly in the final third. 

In both matches, the U.S. finished within double digits in total shots, but with fewer than five shots on goal in both. Its opponents finished ahead in shots on goal with Portugal, finishing with five of its 11 shots on target and Belgium with 10 of its 21 shots on target. The U.S. finished with 33 percent of its shots on target with six percent of its shots actually going into the back of the net between its two games. 

Star forward Christian Pulisic is in the middle of a 20-game scoring slump and was pulled at halftime vs Portugal. Pochettino shared optimism that the U.S. star forward will be back to scoring ways.

“Yes, he is frustrated,” Pochettino said. “But that’s what we expect. He was fighting in the phases that we demand more and then, with the ball, he is going to score because he has the quality. I’m sure he’s going to go back to his club; he’s going to start scoring again.”

Despite the results, it’s not all gloom and doom. The USMNT will have one last set of friendlies against Senegal and Germany at the end of May into early June just before the World Cup. The tournament roster is announced on May 26.