MARIETTA, GA. – Last Saturday night, following the 0-0 draw between Atlanta United and D.C. United, the nameplates above the stalls inside the Atlanta United locker room were being taken down in anticipation of some special guests. The United States Men’s National Team will host the Belgium Men’s National Team on Saturday, March 28, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The international friendly will be a warm-up for the FIFA World Cup 2026. It will also be a chance for Team USA soccer supporters to see the squad before the tournament begins on June 11.
There is always the possibility that the Stars and Stripes will be playing in one of the semifinal matches of the tournament. One of those semifinals will be in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For now, they are training at Atlanta United’s training facility in Marietta.
On Monday, March 23, the United States National Team made its way down a short flight of stairs onto one of the training pitches at the Atlanta United Training Grounds for the first day of a week’s worth of training. For players like Miles Robinson, a veteran of the National Team and former Atlanta United, and current Cincinnati FC defender, the return to familiar territory may help prepare him for a big summer. Along with Robinson, the National Team has over 10 Black players on its roster, many of whom are young, upcoming, and playing in Europe.
Players like Weston McKennie (Juventus FC), Patrick Agyemang (Derby County), Timothy Weah (Olympique Marseille), Alexander Freeman (Villareal CF), Antonee Robinson (Fulham FC), Mark Tillman (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), and Forlarin Balogun (AS Monaco), are going to be necessary if the United States is going to make some noise this summer.
In anticipation of the high-level competition on tap at the World Cup, the National Team will play four friendlies before departing for the World Cup; two of those matches will be in Atlanta, against Belgium on Saturday and Portugal on Tuesday, March 31. The U.S. will play Senegal in Charlotte on May 31 and Germany in Chicago on June 6.
On Monday morning, as a drone flew overhead, Freeman went through drills; his socks displayed a black crucifix. Having moved from Major League Soccer and Orlando City SC to La Liga in Spain, Freeman is one of the bright young stars on the World Cup roster. Alongside him was Tim Ream, a member of Charlotte FC;s back line and a veteran of both Major League Soccer and the United States National Team. Ream’s former teammate, Agyemang, could be seen working his way through a dribbling drill.
From the sidelines, former Atlanta United and United States Men’s National Team goalkeeper Brad Guzan looked on. After 64 caps with the National Team and two World Cup appearances, Guzan is done with international play, and the goalkeeping duties will fall to MLS goalkeepers Matt Turner (New England), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), and Christopher Brady (Chicago Fire FC).
The United States has not played well against Belgium in the past, including during the World Cup. The all-time head-to-head record between the two countries is 3-1 in Belgium’s favor. That record includes a 4-2 Belgium win in 2013 and a 2-1 Belgium victory during the 2014 World Cup. The only victory the United States can claim in this series is a 3-0 result during the 1930 World Cup.