U.S. Men’s National Team Faces Lessons in Identity After Belgium Loss

ATLANTA — In his first 18 months as coach of the U.S. men’s national soccer team, Mauricio Pochettino aimed to reshape the team’s culture. He stated there was no single “A team” and insisted that nothing was simply given away. With a mix of new players and fresh slogans, he tried out different tactics. Notably, a transition to a 3-4-3 formation during the September camp seemed to produce results that carried through October and November.

While victories against Paraguay and Uruguay earlier this year showcased Pochettino’s efforts, the recent 5-2 defeat to Belgium served as a stark reminder that the U.S. roster is not as formidable as it might seem, even with a talented core lineup.

This latest match has raised questions—not just about tactics, particularly after opting for a 4-2-3-1 formation—but about the team’s overall identity and strength. For a solid 35 minutes, the U.S. played like the more driven side, which somewhat mirrors the essence of a consistently high-performing program.

While this squad boasts exceptional talent, it’s clear they need more to shift that reality in their favor.

Pochettino remarked, “In moments where we matched Belgium’s intensity, we were on par, or in some cases better.” However, he noted that any slight drop in intensity exposed vulnerabilities. It was evident in actions where players had the upper hand but weren’t aggressive enough.

An example of this occurred when the U.S. allowed Belgium to score the first goal—a moment where multiple American players were nearby but failed to close down effectively, allowing a shot that would change the game.

Sadly, this wasn’t an isolated incident where the U.S. appeared passive or second best. Ironically, Pochettino and his players were spot on in assessing that they had strong segments of play. In fact, during much of the first half, the U.S. was competitive with Belgium.

Weston McKennie reflected on this by stating, “That’s one thing we can definitely work on—maintaining our intensity and consistency from kickoff to the final whistle.”

The decision to line up matches ahead of the World Cup—including contests against Belgium, Portugal, Senegal, and Germany—only highlights the team’s need to up their game. While the teams they faced in the autumn weren’t exactly weak, this is an entirely different challenge, and the U.S. needs to rise to meet it. They’ve received a tough lesson, one they can’t afford to ignore leading into future matches.

Pochettino emphasized the need for 26 players with a shared commitment and the ability to display enthusiasm in every play. “This isn’t just a one-off situation; recovery takes time,” he said. He further elaborated on the importance of ball recovery, cautioning that a lack of energy in critical moments can lead to quick losses of momentum and opportunity. Saturday’s game clearly illustrated this issue.