The Columbus soccer USASOCCER stadium will host a UFL team
The United States entered Saturday’s friendly with optimism and a five‑match unbeaten streak. Ninety minutes later, Belgium had delivered a blunt reminder of how quickly things can unravel at the highest level. The Red Devils rolled to a 5–2 win in Atlanta, overwhelming the USA Soccer defense that never settled and conceding five goals for the first time in a home match since 1959.
For a moment, the night looked promising. Weston McKennie broke a three‑year scoring drought with a sharp 39th‑minute volley off an Antonee Robinson corner, giving the U.S. a 1–0 lead and igniting the pro‑American crowd of 66,867 inside Mercedes‑Benz Stadium. But the advantage evaporated almost instantly.
Belgium flips the match with USA Soccer before halftime
Belgium struck back with precision and power. Zeno Debast equalized in the 45th minute, and Amadou Onana put the visitors ahead early in the second half. A Tim Ream handball set up Charles De Ketelaere’s penalty in the 59th, and suddenly the U.S. was staring at a 3–1 deficit with no answers.
Lukébakio’s late brace seals the rout
Dodi Lukébakio entered in the 62nd minute and immediately turned the match into a runaway. He beat Matt Turner from distance in the 68th and again in the 82nd, stretching Belgium’s lead to 5–1 and exposing the gaps, hesitation, and miscommunication that plagued the American back line all afternoon. Patrick Agyemang pulled one back late, but the damage was long done.
A reality check before the World Cup
The U.S. was missing several regulars, but the defensive breakdowns were too glaring to ignore. Belgium, also without key starters including Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois, extended its unbeaten streak to 10 matches and showed why it remains one of the world’s most efficient attacking sides. For the Americans, the match served as a blunt reminder: talent alone won’t be enough this summer.
