Team USA faced challenges in their World Cup 2026 match against Belgium. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino showed his frustration with the team’s first-half performance.
Belgium took an early lead, with Charles De Ketelaere scoring within the first 10 minutes. He capitalized on a pass in front of the U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese, leaving the Seattle Stadium crowd in silence. The U.S. managed to equalize when Malik Tillman scored from a free kick, deceiving Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with a deflected shot in the 31st minute.
Pochettino’s dissatisfaction grew when Belgium scored their second goal just two minutes after Tillman’s equalizer. De Ketelaere again found the net, heading the ball past defender Tim Ream.
As Belgium celebrated, Pochettino expressed his frustration at the bench, kicking a Powerade bottle. During the first half, Belgium had control with 53% possession. They managed five shots on goal compared to one by the U.S. and created several scoring opportunities.
For the U.S. to progress to meet Spain in the quarterfinals, they need improved performance. Achieving this would mark the U.S. team reaching the quarterfinals for only the second time in modern FIFA World Cup history, following their success in 2002.
After a challenging first half, Pochettino might need to strategize to turn the game’s momentum. His experience will be crucial in the locker room as they prepare for the second half while Belgium holds an advantage.