ATLANTA — Coming into last month’s international tune-up games, the U.S. men’s national team had been on a five-game unbeaten run since September. The reality check arrived: losses to Belgium (5-2) and Portugal (2-0) exposed gaps the Americans must close before the World Cup.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino said the step up in competition was deliberate — a chance to see how the U.S. stacks up against top European sides. “Even if it’s painful, it’s the only way to improve,” he said. Here are four takeaways from the games.
1) The USMNT had moments, but still trails elite teams
The U.S. looked its best in the first half against Belgium, moving the ball upfield and creating chances. Weston McKennie’s goal off an Antonee Robinson corner was a highlight, but Pochettino’s frustrated reaction came because the team missed other high-quality opportunities. The Americans’ inability to finish contrasted with Belgium’s and Portugal’s clinical edge; the latter, ranked No. 5, punished defensive lapses decisively. Auston Trusty noted the value of facing top-level opponents: such matches expose weaknesses you might not see against smaller sides.
2) Defense remains an open question
Pochettino has experimented with formations — a 4-2-3-1 to control possession and a 3-4-2-1 to free attacking width — but the personnel choices are critical because the U.S. lacks many World Cup–caliber defenders. Over the two friendlies, Pochettino used seven different starters in defense (Robinson, Richards, Trusty, McKenzie, Ream, Freeman, Weah). Robinson and Chris Richards look like the most reliable options for significant minutes. Trusty showed promise, but McKenzie and Freeman are inexperienced at this level, Weah is more attack-minded, and Tim Ream, 38, struggles to match younger attackers. How Pochettino balances formation and personnel will be key.
3) Pochettino wants more intensity
A central complaint from Pochettino was a lack of aggression and intensity in these friendlies. Against Belgium, several goals stemmed from defensive lapses: lost footraces, failures to recover the ball, and poor reaction to transitions. Pochettino contrasted the U.S. performances with what he saw in a France–Colombia friendly, where players treated the match like a World Cup final. He emphasized that intensity must be a habit, not something reserved for big tournaments.
4) Injuries and returns highlight depth issues
Injuries have complicated selection. Johnny Cardoso played only a half on Saturday before withdrawing with leg discomfort; Sergiño Dest has a hamstring issue and may not be fit for the World Cup; Tyler Adams remains out after a knee ligament tear in December. Conversely, the return of Chris Richards (after a knee tweak) and Antonee Robinson (after prolonged knee pain post-surgery) was a positive: both looked effective when available. Depth on a 26-player World Cup roster can be enough if core players are healthy, but the U.S. clearly benefits from its top names being fit.
Group stage and upcoming schedule
Türkiye earned the final spot in Group D, joining the U.S., Australia and Paraguay. The Americans played all three in 2025, losing to Türkiye and beating Australia and Paraguay. Winning the group is the target, but none of the opponents are easy, and advancing is not guaranteed.
Upcoming fixtures:
– May 31: friendly vs. Senegal in Charlotte, N.C.
– June 6: friendly vs. Germany in Chicago
– June 12: World Cup group stage vs. Paraguay in Los Angeles
– June 19: World Cup group stage vs. Australia in Seattle
– June 25: World Cup group stage vs. Türkiye in Los Angeles
Bottom line: These tune-ups were useful reality checks. The U.S. showed it can compete and create chances, but finishing, defensive consistency, intensity and availability of key players will determine whether the team can make a deep run at the World Cup.