The United States men's national team absorbed a disappointing result Saturday, falling 5-2 to Belgium at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta after a promising first half gave way to a chaotic second. The defeat snapped a five-game unbeaten streak and raised pointed questions about defensive organization with the World Cup roughly two months away.

According to Opta, the U.S. had not lost by three goals in a home match after scoring first since an 8-1 defeat to England in 1959.

Weston McKennie gave the hosts a 39th-minute lead off an Antonee Robinson corner, his 12th international goal and first in three years. Belgium equalized through Zeno Debast just before halftime, then scored three times in a 15-minute second-half burst. Amadou Onana, Charles De Ketelaere on a penalty and Dodi Lukebakio all converted. Lukebakio added a second in the 82nd minute before substitute Patrick Agyemang pulled one back for the U.S. in the 87th.

Defensive injuries compounded the problem. Sergino Dest, Chris Richards and Miles Robinson were all unavailable, forcing Tim Weah into a right back role where he was repeatedly tested by Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku. Tyler Adams also missed the match.

Christian Pulisic squandered multiple scoring chances and has now gone seven games without an international goal since November 2024.

"Of course, I'm disappointed. I have to finish my chances," Pulisic said. "They aren't easy chances, but at certain moments, that I expect to do better, for sure."

Mauricio Pochettino framed the result as instructive rather than alarming.

"It's a good reality check for us," Pochettino said. "I think we cannot arrive with the wrong idea that we are so good, we are so handsome, we are so well-dressed and we are Americans. And it's good to feel that, but if we want to win the World Cup, if we want to go next to the next station in the group and we want to beat Paraguay, do you think that they are not going to fight?"

Belgium was without Romelu Lukaku, Leandro Trossard, Hans Vanaken and Thibaut Courtois. Despite the comfortable margin, coach Rudi Garcia credited the Americans.

"This team is better than the result," Garcia said. "We started bad, but also because the USA was more aggressive than us."

The U.S. faces fifth-ranked Portugal on Tuesday in its final tuneup before Pochettino announces his World Cup roster at the end of May.

"We have to beat teams like this if we want to have a chance to go far in the tournament," Pulisic said.