The honeymoon is over for Mauricio Pochettino. If you thought the USMNT was suddenly ready to trade blows with Europe’s elite just because we’re co-hosting the World Cup in 75 days, Saturday night in Atlanta was a brutal wake-up call. Getting thrashed 5-2 by Belgium doesn't just sting—it exposes every cracks in a foundation we thought was solid.
While 67,000 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium were buzzing after Weston McKennie’s 39th-minute opener, the joy lasted exactly six minutes. What followed was a second-half collapse so total it felt like a different sport. Meanwhile, over at the newly renovated Estadio Azteca, Mexico and Portugal played out a 0-0 draw that was high on intensity but lacked the finishing touch, largely because Cristiano Ronaldo was watching from the sidelines with a muscle injury.
The Atlanta Nightmare and the Pulisic Problem
Let’s be real: you can’t concede five straight goals against a top-10 side and call it a "learning experience" without admitting some players looked completely out of their depth. Without Chris Richards and Miles Robinson in the heart of defense, the U.S. backline was a revolving door. Tim Ream and Mark McKenzie were routinely isolated by Jérémy Doku, who didn’t even need to score to be the best player on the pitch.
Five Straight Belgian Punches
- Zeno Debast (45'): The equalizer was a 25-yard rocket that caught Matt Turner screening himself behind his own defenders. It felt like a punch to the gut just as the halftime whistle approached.
- Amadou Onana (53'): This was the turning point. A fluid, end-to-end move that found Onana wide open at the top of the box.
- Charles De Ketelaere (59'): A penalty after a controversial Tim Ream handball review. No mistake from the spot.
- Dodi Lukébakio (68' & 82'): The Benfica winger came off the bench and basically ended Max Arfsten’s night twice. A gorgeous 20-yard curler followed by a close-range poacher’s finish.
The 5-2 result isn't just about bad defending; it's about a lack of control. Pochettino tried something different with Matt Turner getting his first start in nearly a year, but the goalkeeper should’ve done much better on that opening Belgian strike.
The Patrick Agyemang Bright Spot
The 87th-minute consolation goal from Patrick Agyemang, his sixth for the national team, showed some late fight. It was created by Ricardo Pepi's relentless pressing, and Agyemang was clinical with his finish from nine yards. But let's not pretend it changes the narrative.
Mexico and Portugal Go 0-0 in a High Energy Reopening
If the Atlanta match was a goal-fest, the reopening of Estadio Azteca was a tactical chess match that ended without a checkmate. Mexico looked sharp in the first half under Javier Aguirre, keeping the pressure high on a Portugal side missing both Ronaldo and Rafael Leao.
The atmosphere in Mexico City was massive—84,130 fans packed into the revamped 1970 and 1986 final venue. But the festive mood was dampened by tragedy when a fan died after falling from the stands shortly before kickoff.
On the pitch, Portugal’s João Félix and Gonçalo Ramos both came agonizingly close, with Ramos actually striking the post midway through the first half. Mexico’s best chance fell to substitute Armando González in the 80th minute, but his header drifted wide from close range, much to the crowd's frustration.
What’s Actually Happening in 2026 Preparations
The U.S. doesn't have a deep pool of players who can operate at this elite level. We’re basically looking at a roster where only about 13 players are truly World Cup-ready for knockout games. When you take out starters like Sergino Dest and Tyler Adams, the drop-off is startlingly steep.
Belgium is currently ranked ninth in the world and hasn’t lost a match since March 2025. They were clinical and composed, whereas the USMNT looked like they were playing catch-up for most of the second half.
The stats for Mexico vs. Portugal tell an interesting story of wasted opportunities:
- Portugal: 10 total shots, but only 2 on target.
- Expected goals (xG): 1.39 for Portugal vs. 0.52 for Mexico.
Portugal manager Roberto Martínez was surprisingly satisfied with the result, praising his team's defensive structure even after making seven halftime substitutions. Mexico fans weren't as patient, booing the team at the final whistle because they wanted a win to christen the new Azteca.
What Needs to Change Immediately
The USMNT faces Portugal in just three days, and if they defend like they did against Belgium, it could be another long night. Pochettino has to find more defensive solidity, perhaps reverting to a 3-4-2-1 system once Chris Richards is fit. We can't keep asking our midfielders to cover for a backline that gets shredded in 1v1 situations by wingers like Doku and Lukébakio.
Mexico has its own issues, namely finding a way to convert high-energy play into goals. They play Belgium on Tuesday in another friendly that will be a massive test for Javier Aguirre’s organized but goal-shy squad.
We’re 75 days out from the biggest tournament in history. The time for "experimenting" is almost up. If these results tell us anything, it’s that both CONCACAF giants are still a few steps behind the European powers they’ll need to beat if they want to do anything significant this summer.
Check the upcoming Tuesday schedule:
- USA vs. Portugal (Atlanta)
- Mexico vs. Belgium (Mexico City)
You'll want to watch the defensive rotations in the USA match to see if Pochettino can fix the leaks we saw on Saturday.
