{"id":8547,"date":"2026-03-26T14:08:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T14:08:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/8547\/"},"modified":"2026-03-26T14:08:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T14:08:08","slug":"2026-usmnt-friendly-scouting-belgium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/8547\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 USMNT Friendly: Scouting Belgium"},"content":{"rendered":"

The United States Men\u2019s 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 <\/a>\u201chybrid\u201d blue-ryegrass blend surface<\/a>, hosts the fixture.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s Round of 16. Ranked ninth internationally <\/a>by FIFA, Belgium booked a ticket to the summer\u2019s competition with a first-place finish in Group J of UEFA\u2019s 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).<\/p>\n

Following the departure <\/a>of Domenico Tedesco, Rudi Garcia was appointed to the manager position in January of 2025, his first time leading a national team. Plucked <\/a>from a hiatus, the 62-year-old Frenchman had previous <\/a>experience in the technical <\/a>area at Saint-\u00c9tienne, 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.<\/p>\n

Garcia initially named a 28-player roster, with three uncapped talents for a pair of friendlies that includes <\/a>a match against Mexico; Hans Vanaken and Leandro Trossard were ruled <\/a>out with injuries, and Romelu Lukaku is reportedly skipping <\/a>the window in order to \u201coptimize his physical readiness.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

***
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), Joaqu\u00edn 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): J\u00e9r\u00e9my Doku (Manchester City), Lo\u00efs Openda (Juventus), Dodi Luk\u00e9bakio (Benfica), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Alexis Saelemaekers (Milan), Mika Godts (Ajax), Lucas Stassin (Saint-\u00c9tienne)
***
Garcia typically deploys <\/a>a fairly compact 4-3-3 formation <\/a>and will set up his team deeper, with a focus on transition. He plays with two \u201ccentral hinges\u201d in a midfield <\/a>\u201cfull of personality\u201d who are expected to control the game, which frees up the fullbacks to be \u201cvery attack minded\u201d and take higher positions <\/a>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 <\/a>of a false nine that saw several clear chances go unfinished in October\u2019s World Cup qualifier against North Macedonia.<\/p>\n

\"Projected<\/a><\/p>\n

Projected Belgium Starting XI (via BuildLineup.com)<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

One of the top contributors during qualifying, Zeno Debast is a tall figure and anchors the formation<\/a>, boasting an \u201cexceptional passing range, standout ball-carrying, imposing physicality, and surprising nimbleness when under pressure.\u201d 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\u2019s Arthur Theate takes an active <\/a>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 <\/a>to solidify his place in the World Cup squad, a cause undoubtedly <\/a>aided by an assist against Wales and the versatility to play at fullback and defensive midfielder. The six-three-ish Antwerpian has \u201cremarkable [physicality], notable speed, and strength in the air,\u201d while also possessing the skill with his feet to provide outlets when under pressure.<\/p>\n

The \u201ccreative\u201d Maxim De Cuyper carries <\/a>the Brighton imprimatur, with The Seagulls signing him to a long-term contract last summer and immediately adding him to the starting <\/a>lineup, benefitting from his \u201cdecision-making in possession.\u201d 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 <\/a>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\u2019s Timothy Castagne is primarily a defensive <\/a>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<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n

Standing at a \u201ctowering<\/a>\u201d six feet, five inches tall, Amadou Onana is \u201cmore than an enforcer\u201d <\/a>in the Premier League with an \u201cintelligent all-action playing style\u201d 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. \u201cA true bulldog<\/a>\u201d with \u201cball-winning in [his] DNA,\u201d Nicolas Raskin is quickly <\/a>becoming an essential inclusion who helps his side \u201cregain composure\u201d and projects a calming presence in all phases. The 25-year-old Rangers midfielder increased his attacking production last season <\/a>and can dominate between the boxes with firm tackles, evasive dribbling, and smart passing to an advancing <\/a>teammate, an array of distribution that includes quick-trigger switches. Aston Villa\u2019s Youri Tielemans had a crucial <\/a>goal-and-an-assist performance <\/a>in the 4-3 qualifying victory over Wales, being named <\/a>\u201cpermanent captain\u201d for Belgium <\/a>and playing \u201cextraordinary football\u201d with \u201ctop-class playmaking.\u201d He is \u201crazor-sharp\u201d 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 <\/a>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\u2019 lines.<\/p>\n

Manchester City\u2019s J\u00e9r\u00e9my Doku picked up his production <\/a>with five goals and four assists for Belgium <\/a>in 2025, bringing \u201cmanipulation in tight spaces<\/a>, a clean strike, and an explosive five-yard burst from a standing start.\u201d 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>\u201ca resurgence\u201d at AC Milan after spending <\/a>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 \u201cexplosive\u201d by \u201cmaking sure to intercept <\/a>as quickly as possible to stop attacks\u201d while also improving his distribution and establishing himself as a secure handler. The creative Dodi Luk\u00e9bakio 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 \u201ccarry the ball forward, distribute, and track back to the flanks and get involved.\u201d<\/a> The 28-year-old Benfica winger has dealt <\/a>with an injury-plagued campaign <\/a>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.<\/p>\n

Atalanta\u2019s Charles De Ketelaere can deploy <\/a>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 <\/a>him as a tweener who is \u201cbig and moves nicely\u201d while being \u201cfast and skillful,\u201d making a general impact in the final third with the talent to roam the width of the field. Lo\u00efs Openda is a regular option off the bench with constant buzzing <\/a>\u201cin both central and wide areas\u201d which \u201chelps in creating overloads to develop an attacking move,\u201d a palpable physicality, and sometimes \u201cremarkable execution\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

The vaunted <\/a>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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

The match is scheduled for Saturday, March 28th at 3:30 p.m. Eastern, 12:30 p.m. Pacific. Viewing <\/a>options include TNT, truTV, Telemundo, Universo, HBO Max, Peacock, and FuboTV (free trial<\/a>).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The United States Men\u2019s National Team is hurtling toward the World Cup, with precious few remaining opportunities to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8548,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1312,7,4830,6028,6029],"class_list":{"0":"post-8547","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-belgium","8":"tag-2026-world-cup","9":"tag-belgium","10":"tag-friendlies","11":"tag-general-soccer","12":"tag-united-states-men"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@be\/116295873540065530","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8547","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=8547"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8547\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8547"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8547"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/be\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}