International soccer

These are the Belgian and Portuguese stars the USMNT and Mexico will face: Courtois and Cristiano Ronaldo ruled out

With Ronaldo and Courtois absent, both teams will still field world-class talent as the U.S. and Mexico fine-tune for the World Cup on home soil.

RONALD WITTEK

Diego Gorostieta Roddy Cons

Estados Unidos Update: Mar 20th, 2026 11:29 EDT

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March’s FIFA window brings two high-profile tests for the U.S. and Mexico, as both teams aim to sharpen their strategies ahead of the World Cup they will host in less than three months. Mauricio Pochettino leads the U.S. Men’s National Team, while Javier Aguirre commands Mexico, with each squad looking to build momentum against elite European competition.

Star-studded opponents, missing big names

The USMNT and Mexico will take on Belgium and Portugal in key international friendlies at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Soldier Field in Chicago, and the iconic Estadio Azteca. However, the games will be notable for the absence of what are arguably the two biggest stars of these European squads.

This past Friday, both Belgium and Portugal released their rosters for the FIFA window. The lists immediately drew attention for missing two global icons: goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and striker Cristiano Ronaldo, with Ronaldo’s absence being the most talked-about.

Despite these absences, Pochettino’s U.S. team faces formidable challenges against players who regularly shine in Europe’s top leagues, including the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Spain’s LaLiga.

Belgium: Kevin De Bruyne leads the charge

Even without Courtois, Belgium will arrive in Atlanta with a roster featuring several high-profile names, led by midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. The goalkeeping position is still well-covered with talents like Senne Lammens and Matz Sels, who compete in England with Manchester United and Nottingham Forest.

Other experienced Belgian internationals expected to make an impact include Timothy Castagne, Thomas Meunier, Youri Tielemans, Axel Witsel, Jeremy Doku, Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Saelemaekers, and Leandro Trossard.

The Belgian side we'll face in Atlanta on March 28th ⤵️ https://t.co/PObg3aH21I
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 20, 2026

Portugal: A star-studded lineup even without Ronaldo

Portugal, despite missing Cristiano Ronaldo, will also field a top-tier lineup that underlines why the team is among the favorites for the upcoming World Cup.

Roberto Martínez’s squad will face Mexico at Estadio Azteca and the U.S. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a roster packed with talent. Key names include Diogo Costa, Matheus Nunes, Diogo Dalot, João Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Rúben Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, João Félix, Francisco Conceição, Pedro Neto, Rafael Leão, and Gonçalo Ramos.

The Portuguese squad we're up against on March 31st ⤵️ https://t.co/aJjWkLW5yr
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) March 20, 2026

Even without their biggest stars, both Belgium and Portugal promise high-level challenges, offering the U.S. and Mexico valuable preparation for hosting the World Cup on home soil.

March schedule for USMNT and Mexico

Saturday, March 28

USMNT vs. Belgium, 3:30 p.m. ET, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Mexico vs. Portugal, 9 p.m. ET, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

Tuesday, March 31

USMNT vs. Portugal, 7 p.m. ET, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Mexico vs. Belgium, 8 p.m. ET, Soldier Field, Chicago