The United States, one of the co-hosts for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat against Belgium in a recent friendly match. This game, held two and a half months before the main competition, was part of this week’s international friendlies.
Under the guidance of coach Mauricio Pochettino, the U.S. national football team is tasked with building excitement among local supporters. Fans expect the team to at least match their best World Cup performance since 2002, when they reached the quarter-finals. However, following Saturday’s disappointing display at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta – especially considering their subsequent best result has been the Round of 16, and they missed the 2018 edition entirely – such performances offer little cause for optimism.
For television viewers, the match was nearly impossible to watch. Inexplicably, both teams took to the field in almost identical kits. Belgium sported light blue with pink accents, while the United States wore red and white stripes. Both teams were showcasing their new uniforms for the first time, but home viewers struggled immensely to distinguish one team’s players from the other’s, often having to rely solely on their shorts. This glaring oversight angered fans and even prompted an apology from Belgian television broadcasters.