The United States Men’s National Team is hurtling toward the World Cup, with precious few remaining opportunities to build chemistry and create some traction heading into the summer. The international window opens with a match against Belgium before another strong test in Portugal. The first European opponent is rebuilding after a golden generation that achieved a best-ever third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup. Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a 42,500-seat multi-purpose venue in Atlanta, Georgia, with a natural
“hybrid” blue-ryegrass blend surface, hosts the fixture.
This is the seventh all-time meeting between the two programs, with the USMNT on the wrong side of a 1-5-0 series and dropping the most recent match-up (1-2) in extra time of the 2014 World Cup’s Round of 16. Ranked ninth internationally by FIFA, Belgium booked a ticket to the summer’s competition with a first-place finish in Group J of UEFA’s qualifying. De Rode Duivels (The Red Devils) notched results against North Macedonia (1-1, 0-0), Wales (4-3, 4-2), Liechtenstein (6-0, 7-0), and Kazakhstan (6-0, 1-1).
Following the departure of Domenico Tedesco, Rudi Garcia was appointed to the manager position in January of 2025, his first time leading a national team. Plucked from a hiatus, the 62-year-old Frenchman had previous experience in the technical area at Saint-Étienne, Dijon, Le Mans, Lille, Roma, Marseille, Lyon, Al-Nassr, and, most recently, Napoli. He has been under an intense microscope for his tactical choices but has managed to survive his sparring battles with the media and continues to make bold choices that have borne fruit.
Garcia initially named a 28-player roster, with three uncapped talents for a pair of friendlies that includes a match against Mexico; Hans Vanaken and Leandro Trossard were ruled out with injuries, and Romelu Lukaku is reportedly skipping the window in order to “optimize his physical readiness.” Call-ups are spread across Europe, with seven in the Premier League, five in Serie A, and three in the domestic Belgian Pro League. Notable absences are Thibaut Courtois, Michy Batshuayi, and Wout Faes.
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GOALKEEPERS (3): Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest), Senne Lammens (Manchester United), Maarten Vandevoordt (RB Leipzig)
DEFENDERS (9): Thomas Meunier (Lille), Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt), Zeno Debast (Sporting CP), Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton & Hove Albion), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Koni De Winter (Milan), Joaquín Seys (Club Brugge), Nathan Ngoy (Lille)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Axel Witsel (Girona), Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa), Nicolas Raskin (Rangers), Nathan De Cat (Anderlecht)
FORWARDS (7): Jérémy Doku (Manchester City), Loïs Openda (Juventus), Dodi Lukébakio (Benfica), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Alexis Saelemaekers (Milan), Mika Godts (Ajax), Lucas Stassin (Saint-Étienne)
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Garcia typically deploys a fairly compact 4-3-3 formation and will set up his team deeper, with a focus on transition. He plays with two “central hinges” in a midfield “full of personality” who are expected to control the game, which frees up the fullbacks to be “very attack minded” and take higher positions up the pitch. Belgium has maintained some of the best possession numbers during qualifying while also managing to score quite often. His willingness to experiment can draw criticism, such as the deployment of a false nine that saw several clear chances go unfinished in October’s World Cup qualifier against North Macedonia.
With Courtois out with an injury, Matz Sels is expected to pick up the start, having firmly established himself as the primary back-up with three appearances during qualifying. The 34-year-old Nottingham Forest goalkeeper has enjoyed a second shot in England in his career, receiving the Premier League Golden Glove last season with 13 shutouts. He has phenomenal agility when quickly shifting into saves, covering the entirety of the goalmouth in an instant and taking what could be considered daring positioning by creeping up on certain attempts. Whether tracking long-distance shots through crowds or making seemingly impossible adjustments on close-range opportunities, his efforts are more than enough to prevent a few goals.
One of the top contributors during qualifying, Zeno Debast is a tall figure and anchors the formation, boasting an “exceptional passing range, standout ball-carrying, imposing physicality, and surprising nimbleness when under pressure.” The 22-year-old Sporting Lisbon centre-back has supreme body control when shouldering opponents off the ball, can dictate the play with pinging long-range distribution, and hits a decent driven shot. Eintracht Frankfurt’s Arthur Theate takes an active role during the build-up with regular progressive passes and solo dribbling runs, possessing the versatility to play on the inside and the outside of the line. He seeks to push the tempo and always looks up the field, jumpstarting the transition after one of his acrobatic and athletic duels, leaping for a header or galloping in for a challenge. Koni De Winter of AC Milan is attempting to solidify his place in the World Cup squad, a cause undoubtedly aided by an assist against Wales and the versatility to play at fullback and defensive midfielder. The six-three-ish Antwerpian has “remarkable [physicality], notable speed, and strength in the air,” while also possessing the skill with his feet to provide outlets when under pressure.
The “creative” Maxim De Cuyper carries the Brighton imprimatur, with The Seagulls signing him to a long-term contract last summer and immediately adding him to the starting lineup, benefitting from his “decision-making in possession.” A winger at the youth level, he maintains his fierce attacking instincts and inexorable need to break into the final third, while also being comfortable with physical one-on-one duels in every zone. One of the squad veterans, Thomas Meunier is an imposing figure at six feet, three inches tall who wins the expected headers, racks up interceptions, and plays a high number of progressive and long-range passes. The 34-year-old Lille fullback was influential in the attack during qualifying with two goals and two assists, turning back the clock with late runs into the box followed by a well-placed shot. Fulham’s Timothy Castagne is primarily a defensive option and can play on both sides of the formation, with explosive athleticism and a tireless work rate to constantly make himself an option to teammates. When required, he can serve as a creative force on the outside of the box with accurate crossing and passes into the center, but his best moments come when forcing a turnover and quickly getting rid of the ball.
Standing at a “towering” six feet, five inches tall, Amadou Onana is “more than an enforcer” in the Premier League with an “intelligent all-action playing style” and the ability to function in a tighter system with short-range build-ups. However, the cornerstone of his game is still the utter domination of the central zones or making runs forward and creating a bridgehead by shielding off challenges and maintaining control or simply blocking attempted advancements. “A true bulldog” with “ball-winning in [his] DNA,” Nicolas Raskin is quickly becoming an essential inclusion who helps his side “regain composure” and projects a calming presence in all phases. The 25-year-old Rangers midfielder increased his attacking production last season and can dominate between the boxes with firm tackles, evasive dribbling, and smart passing to an advancing teammate, an array of distribution that includes quick-trigger switches. Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans had a crucial goal-and-an-assist performance in the 4-3 qualifying victory over Wales, being named “permanent captain” for Belgium and playing “extraordinary football” with “top-class playmaking.” He is “razor-sharp” and a top chance creator with a keen eye for the right ball into the final third, a lethal location on his set pieces, and the occasional finish from a well-placed shot or a header. After his long and wildly successful tenure with Manchester City, Kevin De Bruyne moved to Napoli to join the reigning Serie A champions, jumping into the scudetto race with a rash of conversions but suffering a hamstring injury that required surgery. When on his game, the supreme set-up man has a preternatural ability to seemingly do anything with the ball and generate an endless series of opportunities, going around, over, and through opponents’ lines.
Manchester City’s Jérémy Doku picked up his production with five goals and four assists for Belgium in 2025, bringing “manipulation in tight spaces, a clean strike, and an explosive five-yard burst from a standing start.” A dominant presence in progression, he has an electric dynamism with his pacy and physical charges up the field and through a crowded area, utilizing all manner of tricks and hesitations to create for himself and teammates. Alexis Saelemaekers has enjoyed “a resurgence” at AC Milan after spending last season on loan at Roma, appearing in a variety of positions and adding necessary defensive bite with regular tackles. Total Football Analysis describes his retreats as “explosive” by “making sure to intercept as quickly as possible to stop attacks” while also improving his distribution and establishing himself as a secure handler. The creative Dodi Lukébakio is on the edge of the World Cup plans but should merit a ticket due to his high work rate as a two-way player who can “carry the ball forward, distribute, and track back to the flanks and get involved.” The 28-year-old Benfica winger has dealt with an injury-plagued campaign since moving to Portugal in September yet boasts an imposing figure with the long stride to match, a deliberate style, and a powerful left-footed shot.
Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere can deploy on the wing and the interior of the front line, a streaky finisher who dominates the passing game, creates in bunches, and breezes past opponents in the dribble. At six feet, four inches tall, observers describe him as a tweener who is “big and moves nicely” while being “fast and skillful,” making a general impact in the final third with the talent to roam the width of the field. Loïs Openda is a regular option off the bench with constant buzzing “in both central and wide areas” which “helps in creating overloads to develop an attacking move,” a palpable physicality, and sometimes “remarkable execution” in the final third. The 26-year-old on-loan Juventus forward belies his stature with regular heading on the end of crosses and back-to-the-net play but is also good for bursts of speed into the area to cap off breakneck counters.
The vaunted schedule makers at U.S. Soccer went through their process and found a pair of solid opponents for the window, both of which should further prepare the team for the upcoming World Cup. Despite moving past the golden generation, Belgium, likely to be viewed as the favorite in this friendly, glided through qualifying and could make some noise at this summer’s competition. On the other side of the field, Mauricio Pochettino has another opportunity to build chemistry, with his squad also possibly needing a boost in the midst of a long European club season.
The match is scheduled for Saturday, March 28th at 3:30 p.m. Eastern, 12:30 p.m. Pacific. Viewing options include TNT, truTV, Telemundo, Universo, HBO Max, Peacock, and FuboTV (free trial).
