Lead: The United States men’s national team faces Belgium this afternoon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in the first friendly of the March international window. Manager Mauricio Pochettino confirmed defenders Miles Robinson and Chris Richards will not be on the matchday sheet due to ongoing minor injuries, and both are also expected to miss Tuesday’s game against Portugal. The fixture is one of the last high-profile opportunities for players to stake a claim for a World Cup roster spot. Broadcasters and streamers in the U.S. will carry the match live as fans and selectors watch individual performances closely.
Key takeaways
- The match kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, capacity ~71,000.
- Head coach Mauricio Pochettino confirmed Miles Robinson and Chris Richards are left off the team sheet and will also miss the March 2026 friendly against Portugal.
- Both teams may use up to 11 substitutes under the current friendly-window rule, giving coaches broad opportunity to rotate the squad.
- TV outlets: TNT and truTV (English), Telemundo and Universo (Spanish); streaming: HBO Max (English), Peacock (Spanish), FuboTV (free trial).
- This friendly is a final evaluation platform ahead of the World Cup roster decisions; individual minutes could swing selections.
Background
The March international window is typically the last extended opportunity for national-team coaches to evaluate players in match conditions before naming a World Cup squad. For the USMNT, the 2026 World Cup—co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico—makes these friendlies particularly consequential as competition for roster spots is intense. Belgium arrives as one of the world’s most dangerous sides despite reports that they might be missing a couple of key names for this trip; their depth still presents a stern test for any opponent.
Mauricio Pochettino took charge of the USMNT with a clear emphasis on tactical flexibility and squad competition. Injuries and form have shaped selection decisions in this window: the absence of central defenders Miles Robinson and Chris Richards forces Pochettino to test alternative pairings and give fringe defenders valuable minutes. For Belgium, balancing player workloads ahead of the club season and World Cup planning means the lineup could mix veterans with younger options.
Main event
Matchday preparations in Atlanta centered on last-minute fitness checks and the team sheet that Pochettino announced after his pre-match press conference. With Robinson and Richards unavailable, the US defensive unit will rely on other centrally positioned players to manage Belgium’s high-quality attack. The coach indicated he will use the expanded substitution allowance to give most squad members meaningful minutes across the 90-plus period.
Belgium’s selection will be watched closely; reports suggested a couple of stars might be absent, though the squad remains dangerous given its attacking and creative options when fully available. The fixture’s advertised kickoff time is 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT, and organizers expect strong local interest given the stadium’s size and the match’s World Cup relevance. Broadcasters TNT and truTV will carry the English-language telecast, with Spanish coverage on Telemundo and Universo, while HBO Max and Peacock offer streaming options in English and Spanish respectively.
Because both sides can make up to 11 substitutions, managers can stage deliberate rotations. That structure lets Pochettino test different defensive combinations and observe how tactical adjustments affect team cohesion. For players on the fringes of the World Cup squad, even brief appearances can influence final roster decisions by showcasing fitness, positional awareness and composure under pressure.
Analysis & implications
The confirmed absences of Robinson and Richards highlight the importance of depth at center back for the USMNT. If either player’s recovery timeline extends beyond the friendly window, Pochettino may face a difficult choice between experienced but out-of-form players and younger defenders with limited international minutes. Defensive performances today will likely weigh heavily in the coach’s assessment ahead of the World Cup list.
The 11-substitution allowance changes match management and selection calculus. Coaches can prioritize both tactical tests and individual assessments without sacrificing competitive balance. For the US, that means a chance to try multiple backline and midfield combinations against top-level opposition; for Belgium, it allows workload management for key internationals while still probing the US defense.
On the tactical level, the encounter pits Pochettino’s emphasis on structure and transitional play against Belgium’s traditional strengths in ball progression and attacking movement. How the US midfield handles Belgium’s creative outlets will shape the match: sustained pressure could expose defensive inexperience, while disciplined counter-pressing could create scoring chances. The result itself matters less than the individual readouts for fitness and suitability to Pochettino’s preferred system.
Comparison & data
| Context | Competitive matches | Friendlies (current window) |
|---|---|---|
| Substitutions allowed | 5 (standard FIFA competitive allowance) | Up to 11 per side (current friendly-window rule) |
| Primary purpose | Points/titles, tournament progression | Player evaluation, conditioning, tactical tests |
The table clarifies why friendlies during the March window function differently from tournament fixtures. With more substitutions available, coaching staffs can gather a wider sample of player data—minutes, match fitness, positional versatility—without compromising competitive intensity. That shift makes today’s match a richer dataset for selectors but reduces the continuity typically seen in eleven-versus-eleven tests.
Reactions & quotes
Pochettino confirmed that Miles Robinson and Chris Richards will not be included on the matchday sheet and that other defenders will have the opportunity to step up.
Mauricio Pochettino, USMNT head coach (press conference)
The federation reiterated the match’s role as a selection and preparation exercise ahead of roster decisions for the 2026 World Cup.
US Soccer Federation (official communication)
Unconfirmed
- Which specific Belgian stars will be absent is not fully confirmed; reports suggest a couple of notable players may sit out but names and official reasons remained unverified ahead of kickoff.
- Exact starting lineups for both teams were not published in the primary match briefing; final sheets will be confirmed at kickoff by match officials.
- The expected return timeline for Miles Robinson and Chris Richards has not been publicly detailed beyond their absence from this fixture and the Portugal friendly.
Bottom line
Today’s USA vs Belgium friendly in Atlanta is as much an audition as a match result. With the World Cup on home soil in 2026, minutes and performance metrics matter enormously; Pochettino’s use of expanded substitutions gives many players a last meaningful chance to impress selectors. Defensive absences for the U.S. increase the stakes for replacement options—how they perform will shape perceptions about depth heading into the summer.
Fans should watch individual battles and substitutions as signals about tactical preferences and roster priorities rather than focus solely on the scoreboard. Broadcasters TNT, truTV, Telemundo and Universo and streamers HBO Max, Peacock and FuboTV will carry the game live; for the coaching staff, every rotation and brief cameo is data to inform the final World Cup squad choice.