USMNT starting lineup against Belgium in friendly today, Saturday, March 28 in Atlanta
The USMNT takes on Belgium in a friendly at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The 2026 World Cup kicks off on June 11, with the United States serving as one of the host nations.
Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT side faces the world’s ninth-ranked team, Belgium, today at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. ET.
USMNT XI vs Belgium
Pochettino’s starting XI is as follows: Matt Turner; Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream (c), Mark McKenzie; Weston McKennie, Johnny Cardoso, Malik Tillman; Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Tim Weah.
Pochettino has gone for a decent blend of experience and emerging talent in today’s lineup. The starting XI averages 44 caps, with Christian Pulisic leading the group on 83 appearances, followed closely by Tim Ream (80) and Weston McKennie (63).
Ream, who captains the side, reaches the 80-cap milestone and continues his role as a key leader in the squad, wearing the armband for the 26th time. Meanwhile, Pulisic moves into sole possession of 24th place on the USMNT’s all-time appearances list and makes his 70th career start.
There are also several notable returns and milestones across the lineup. Antonee Robinson makes his first appearance since November 2024, while goalkeeper Matt Turner earns his first cap since June 2025, bringing with him a record of 27 clean sheets in 53 appearances. Johnny Cardoso is back in the lineup for the first time since last summer’s Gold Cup, and he, along with Mark McKenzie and Malik Tillman, faces a top-10 ranked opponent for the first time at international level. The Ream–McKenzie partnership in central defense is also worth noting, with the USMNT unbeaten (4-0-0) when the two start together.
Belgium starting XI
Belgium will line up as follows in Atlanta:
Senne Lammens, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper, Thomas Meunier, Zeno Debast, Alexis Saelemaekers, Amadou Onana, Charles De Ketelaere, Kevin De Bruyne, Nicolas Raskin and Jérémy Doku
USMNT building up to World Cup
The match marks the first of four key tests for the USMNT during this international window. Up next is a clash against Portugal, followed by additional high-level friendlies as Pochettino continues to fine-tune his squad ahead of the World Cup.
With the tournament now just weeks away, these games represent a crucial opportunity for players to secure their spots and build momentum, as the United States prepares to open its campaign on home soil in one of the most anticipated World Cups in history.
Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.