Why USMNT’s March loss to Belgium has no bearing on their World Cup rematch

The USMNT suffered a 5-2 loss to Belgium in a March 2026 friendly, which coach Mauricio Pochettino described as 'a good reality check.' The defeat was partly attributed to an experimental tactical setup featuring two attack-minded fullbacks, leaving defensive gaps that Belgium exploited, a system Pochettino has not used since. The two teams are now set to meet again in a World Cup round-of-16 match, with U.S. players and staff arguing the friendly result has little bearing on the upcoming knockout clash.