Lukebakio scores twice as Belgium put five past USA in Atlanta friendly
This was supposed to be a confidence booster for Mauricio Pochettino's squad. Co-hosts of a World Cup that starts in June, playing at home in Atlanta with 66,867 fans behind them. Instead, Belgium tore the USMNT apart in a second half that will give Pochettino plenty to think about.
First half stays tight before Belgium take control
The opening 45 minutes were competitive. Weston McKennie gave the home crowd something to cheer about when he scored in the 39th minute to put the USA ahead. But Zeno Debast levelled for Belgium right before the break, heading in on the stroke of half-time to make it 1-1 at the interval.
The second half was a different game entirely. Amadou Onana put Belgium in front in the 53rd minute, and six minutes later Charles De Ketelaere converted a penalty to make it 3-1. The Americans looked rattled.
Lukebakio puts the result beyond doubt
Dodi Lukebakio then took over. He scored in the 68th minute and again in the 82nd to complete his brace and put Belgium 5-1 up. Patrick Agyemang pulled one back for the USA in the 87th minute, but by then it was damage limitation rather than any kind of comeback.
Rudi Garcia, who took over as Belgium coach in January 2025 after Domenico Tedesco was sacked, has quietly built a side that looks organised and dangerous on the counter. Belgium qualified for the World Cup by topping their UEFA group, and this performance showed why.
Pochettino under pressure with the World Cup weeks away
For the USA, there is still time to fix things. But the defensive problems on display in Atlanta are not new. Conceding five at home, even in a friendly, is a result that will make headlines for the wrong reasons. The World Cup is on home soil. There is nowhere to hide if performances like this carry over into the tournament.
Japan also won on the road on Saturday, beating Scotland 1-0 at Hampden Park through a late Junya Ito goal in the 84th minute, while Tunisia edged Haiti 1-0 in the other notable friendly of the night.
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