{"id":8452,"date":"2026-03-26T02:29:06","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T02:29:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/8452\/"},"modified":"2026-03-26T02:29:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T02:29:06","slug":"preview-usa-vs-belgium-prediction-team-news-lineups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/8452\/","title":{"rendered":"Preview: USA vs Belgium – prediction, team news, lineups"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a rematch from their memorable 2014 World Cup clash, the USA<\/a> welcome Belgium<\/a> to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for a friendly on Saturday.<\/p>\n

It will be the first match of 2026 for both sides, with the Yanks thumping Uruguay 5-1 in their final game last year, while Belgium crushed Liechtenstein 7-0.<\/p>\n

Match preview<\/p>\n

We are months away from the World Cup, with the American men in fine form and keen to make a strong impact at the finals this summer.<\/p>\n

Mauricio Pochettino<\/a> saw his team win their final three fixtures of 2025, while going unbeaten in their last five such games.<\/p>\n

Over that stretch, they conceded a goal or fewer each time, and they have not allowed a second-half strike in their last six internationals.<\/p>\n

This weekend will mark the fifth time the men\u2019s team play in Atlanta, with the Yanks losing their only previous game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 2-1 to Panama at the 2024 Copa America.<\/p>\n

They have lost their opening match in a calendar year on two of those previous three occasions, but won their first two games of 2025 over Venezuela (3-1) and Costa Rica (3-0).<\/p>\n

On Saturday, they can claim their first victory versus European opposition since edging Northern Ireland 2-1 in a 2021 friendly, with the US losing their last six competitive games against that region.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Imago<\/p>\n

After a solid 2025, Belgium enter this year full of confidence that they can shed the label of underachievers on the World Cup stage.<\/p>\n

Rudi Garcia<\/a> appears to have reinvigorated this team, with the French coach losing just one match since taking charge in January 2025 (3-1 versus Ukraine).<\/p>\n

The Belgians are unbeaten in their last four internationals away from home, conceding a goal or fewer in three of those instances.<\/p>\n

Last year, they did not suffer a single defeat after conceding the opening goal, drawing Kazakhstan in November (1-1) and coming from behind to defeat Wales a month earlier (4-2).<\/p>\n

Saturday will mark the first time they face a CONCACAF nation since defeating Canada 1-0 at the 2022 World Cup, their only game against that region this decade.<\/p>\n

Since a 3-0 loss to the US at the 1930 World Cup, the Red Devils have won their last five games against them, including a thrilling 2-1 triumph at the 2014 World Cup in a match that saw American keeper Tim Howard make a World Cup record 16 saves.<\/p>\n

USA International Friendlies form:<\/p>\n

Belgium International Friendlies form:<\/p>\n

Belgium form (all competitions):<\/p>\n

Team News\"United<\/p>\n

An MCL issue will keep Tyler Adams out of the American fold, while Haji Wright has a sore groin, Sergino Dest is dealing with a hamstring strain and Roman Celentano is out as well with a knock.<\/p>\n

Christian Pulisic<\/a> is two goals away from equalling Eric Wynalda for fourth all-time, while Folarin Balogun was named Monaco\u2019s Player of the Month for February, netting four times, while he has five goals in his club\u2019s last six games.<\/p>\n

On the Belgian side, record goalscorer Romelu Lukaku<\/a> withdrew from the squad due to a sore hamstring, while Hans Vanaken and Leandro Trossard were left off the team because of injuries.<\/p>\n

Thibaut Courtois<\/a> suffered a thigh injury in Real Madrid\u2019s recent 2-1 Champions League triumph over Manchester City, while Kevin De Bruyne scored six times for Belgium in 2025, climbing above Eden Hazard for second all-time in the history of the national team.<\/p>\n

USA possible starting lineup:<\/p>\n

Freese; Richards, McKenzie, Trusty; Weah, Tessmann, McKennie, A. Robinson; Pulisic, Aaronson; Balogun<\/p>\n

Belgium possible starting lineup:<\/p>\n

Sels; Meunier, Mechele, Theate, Castagne; Tielemans, De Bruyne, Raskin; Saelemaekers, De Ketelaere, Doku<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

We say: USA 1-2 Belgium<\/p>\n

Even with the key injuries Belgium are dealing withy, this is a team that boast plenty of players capable of stepping up and contributing, and we believe their overall experience will shine through on Saturday.<\/p>\n

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In a rematch from their memorable 2014 World Cup clash, the USA welcome Belgium to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8453,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[7,1682,4037,499,4031,4034,4036,4035,1265,4032,1857,4038,3663,4033],"class_list":{"0":"post-8452","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-belgium","8":"tag-belgium","9":"tag-cycling","10":"tag-epl","11":"tag-football","12":"tag-formula-1","13":"tag-golf","14":"tag-nfl","15":"tag-olympics","16":"tag-premier-league","17":"tag-rugby","18":"tag-sport","19":"tag-sports-mole","20":"tag-teams","21":"tag-tennis"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@be\/116293124979615065","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8452","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8452"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8452\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8453"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8452"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8452"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}