Last Word on Football brings you the latest team news and the confirmed lineups for the USMNT vs Belgium international friendly at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The 2026 World Cup is edging closer, with the pressure building on every qualified country. The USMNT will be eager to make an impact at this summer’s competition, with the U.S. being one of the competition’s co-hosts alongside Canada and Mexico. Belgium travel to the U.S. on a nine-match undefeated streak.
International Friendly: USMNT vs Belgium, Team News and Confirmed Lineups
USMNT Team News
Mauricio Pochettino’s squad appears to be coming together as we edge closer to this summer’s World Cup. The USMNT coach appears confident his squad can make an impact this summer. Building up to the Belgium game, Pochettino repeated a message he delivered directly to his players:
“Dreams,” he said, “inspire reality.”
“I hear another day a press conference from some coaching staff in another national team and (they) say, `OK, if we say we are going to win, we are showing too much arrogance,’” he explained. “If we say, well, it is going to be difficult to win. It’s negative. It’s not optimistic. It’s creating negative things. What I am saying: I am here because I believe that we can win and what I can tell to the people is really believe,” added the USMNT coach.
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“We need to send the right energy and good emotion to the people, for the people to really believe in us and to support us, for sure,” Pochettino said.
Key midfielder Tyler Adams will be missing, following his injury in training before Bournemouth’s recent Premier League fixture against Burnley. Tanner Tessmann should continue in midfield, with Sebastian Berhalter, Johnny Cardoso, Aidan Morris, or Cristian Roldan competing to partner him.
Belgium Team News
Despite some key players missing, Belgium have travelled with a strong squad. Thibaut Courtois is not with the squad, so Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels and Manchester United’s Senne Lammens are competing for a start.
Since the era of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen has ended, Belgium have been searching for a strong defensive partnership. Eintracht Frankfurt’s Arthur Theate has started the last three games, and it looks to be more of a question of who will partner him for this game.
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Even though Hans Vanaken, Romelu Lukaku, and Leandro Trossard will be missing, Rudi Garcia has no shortage of attacking players to pick from.
USMNT Confirmed Lineup
Starting XI: Matt Turner, Antonee Robinson, Tanner Tessmann, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Tim Ream (C), Johnny Cardoso, Malik Tillman, Folarin Balogun, Tim Weah, Mark McKenzie
Subs: Aaronson, Agyemang, Arfsten, Berhalter, Brady, Freeman, Freese, Morris, Pepi, Reyna, Roldan, Scally, Schulte, Trusty
Belgium Confirmed Lineup
Starting XI: Lammens, Debast, Mechele, De Cuyper, Meunier, Raskin, Onana, Doku, Saelemaekers, De Bruyne (C), De Ketelaere
Subs: Vandevoordt, Sels, Theate, Witsel, Tielemans, Openda, Lukebakio, De Winter, Seys, Stassin, Ngoy, Castagne, De Cat, Godts
Featured Image Credit:
SmartFrame – Zuma Press
