US team with big World Cup dreams gets a dressing down from Belgium

ATLANTA (AP) — Belgium gave a dressing down to a U.S. team with big World Cup dreams.

The Americans allowed five straight goals in a deflating 5-2 loss to the Red Devils in a friendly on Saturday night. The U.S. had not lost by three in a home game in which it scored the opening goal since an 8-1 defeat to England in 1959, according to Opta.

“We cannot arrive with the wrong idea of that we are so good, we are so handsome, we are so well dressed and we are Americans,” said U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino, a former Argentina defender. “Always after the games when the team wins, (it's) because we fight, we were aggressive, we were intense, yes? When we drop in that intensity — we saw today.”

Preparing to host the World Cup this summer, the U.S. entered with a five-game unbeaten streak and Pochettino's message to players had been they can win soccer’s top title for the first time.

Weston McKennie's 39th-minute goal from Antonee Robinson's corner kick put the 15th-ranked U.S. ahead of the world's No. 9 team. But then the U.S. level lagged.

“We didn’t defend our box well enough,” said Matt Turner, who returned to the U.S. goal for the first time since June. “That’s something that we cannot have. We can’t accept that we didn’t lay everything on the line to keep the ball out of the back of the net because that’s when our tails should be up the most.”

Dodi Lukébakio scored two goals for Belgium and Zeno Debast, Amadou Onana and Charles De Ketelaere had one each. Patrick Agyemang got an 87th-minute goal for the U.S., which has lost seven straight games to European opponents while getting outscored 20-6.

Christian Pulisic, the top American player, failed to convert several good scoring chances. He entered scoreless in his last 12 games with AC Milan and extended his U.S. goal drought to seven games since November 2024.

“Of course I’m disappointed. I have to finish my chances,” Pulisic said. “They aren't easy chances, but at certain moments — that I expect to do better, for sure.”

Last fall's unbeaten streak included wins over Japan (currently No. 18), Australia (27), Paraguay (38) and Uruguay (17) plus a draw vs. Ecuador (23). The U.S. plays No. 5 Portugal on Tuesday in its last game before Pochettino announces his World Cup roster on May 26.

“We have to beat teams like this if we want to have a chance to go far in the tournament,” Pulisic said.

Turner said the match reminded him of the 3-1 loss to the Netherlands that eliminated the U.S. from the 2022 World Cup in the round of 16. Belgium withstood U.S. pressure early, then raised its aggressiveness to a level the Americans couldn't withstand.

“They're great reminders for us of what the level is going to be like and then our minimum standard of what we should expect from ourselves.” Turner said. “Credit to Belgium, but all that went wrong tonight wasn’t just on how good they were. We were also pretty poor in certain areas.”

Both teams missed several regulars because of injuries and fitness: the Americans missed Tyler Adams, Sergiño Dest and Chris Richards, and Belgium was without Romelu Lukaku, Leandro Trossard, Hans Vanaken and Thibaut Courtois.

“This team is better than the result,” Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said. “We started bad, but also because the USA was more aggressive than us.”

With Richards sidelined, the U.S. started 38-year-old Tim Ream in central defense along with Mark McKenzie.

There was no American defender within 5 yards when Debast scored the equalizer from about 30 yards in the 45th minute after Turner parried Jérémy Doku's initial attempt. Onana put Belgium ahead in the 53rd with a shot through the center of the penalty area after a layback from Alexis Saelemaekers.

De Ketelaere converted a penalty kick in the 59th after Thomas Meunier's shot glanced off Ream's left arm. Lukebakio spun around Max Arfsten to score in the 68th and then had an open shot after Timothy Castagne's cross deflected off a foot of Sebastian Berhalter in the 82nd.

An exasperated Ream stared upward, hands on hips.

“In too many actions that we were in place, we have superiority, but we were not aggressive enough.” Pochettino said. “It’s a good check, reality for us, because now is the moment to feel this type of situation, to improve.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

United States' Weston McKennie (8) and Belgium's Thomas Meunier battle for a head ball during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Belgium's Jeremy Doku moves against the United States' Timothy Weah (21) during an international friendly soccer match, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Belgium's Dodi Lukebakio celebrates his goal against the United States during the second half of an international friendly soccer match, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

United States' Tim Ream (13) tries the control the ball as Belgium's Dodi Lukebakio (14) looks on during the second half of an international friendly soccer match, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Belgium's Jeremy Doku (11) dribbles against the United States' Christian Pulisic (10) during the first half of an international friendly soccer match, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Keith Thurman said the fight should have continued, and maybe if it had, he would have found a way to get the best of Sebastian Fundora.

But until referee Thomas Taylor stopped the bout at 1:17 of the sixth round on Saturday night, there was little evidence that Fundora was in danger of relinquishing his WBC super welterweight belt.

The 6-foot-5 Fundora (24-1-1, 16 knockouts) used his nine-inch height and reach advantage to pepper Thurman (31-2, 23 KOs) with a series of hard lefts and combinations. Thurman managed to get in the occasional blow, but had to pick his spots.

There just wasn't enough of an opportunity for him against the man called The Towering Inferno. Fundora landed 96 shots to 28 for Thurman, according to Compubox, and 64 power punches to 25.

“I was a little nervous today because Thurman is such a big name," Fundora said. "But once we got in that ring, I said, ‘This is my world.’”

He made that clear early in the fight, and by the fifth round, Fundora was in complete control, delivering blow after blow with Thurman against the ropes. A knockout seemed like a matter of time, and it nearly came in the closing seconds of that round before the bell rang.

The moment, instead, occurred early in the sixth.

Thurman, holding ice to the left side of his battered and bruised face, was upset about the ref's decision to step in, arguing he hadn't been knocked down and was on the verge of giving his opponent a true challenge.

“The fight was getting really good," Thurman said. “The fans were loving the action and the referee stopped the fight too early. They don’t have the guts to let the fights go on like (in past years). He talked to me and said if I was moving my feet he wouldn’t stop the fight. I wasn’t on the ropes taking shots. It was very unfortunate to not give the fans a better show. Win, lose, or draw, I thought it was a little bit premature. I had more in me.”

Fundora, a 28-year-old from Coachella, California, was a significant favorite entering the bout, listed at -325 at BetMGM Sportsbook.

“We’ve been working very hard for this fight," Fundora said. “I told him that I’ve always looked up to him. He’s a Hall of Famer for sure.”

Thurman, a Clearwater, Florida resident, looked all of his 37 years old, and perhaps after this night, he could have some big decisions to make about his future. But Thurman said he has more left in him, especially the way this fight ended.

He once ruled the welterweight division, his only loss before Saturday occurring July 20, 2019, in a split-decision loss to Manny Pacquiao.

“Sebastian definitely came in shape,” Thurman said. "He throws a lot of punches. The uppercut that caught me and cut me was an awkward punch that I’ve never been hit with before. The man brings it. He’s a tremendous champion, and I can lift my head up high knowing I was defeated by a great young fighter.”

Fundora said he is willing to take on anyone who's willing to step into the ring with him in the 154-pound division.

If he continues to have nights like this one, Fundora could find himself in position to be the unified title holder. It would hard to argue against that Saturday night.

“There’s all kinds of big names," Fundora said. “One-fifty-four is the best division right now. Whoever wants it next can get it.”

AP boxing: https://apnews.com/boxing

Sebastian Fundora, left, shakes hands with Keith Thurman after a super welterweight championship boxing match Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Sebastian Fundora hits Keith Thurman in a super welterweight championship boxing match Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Sebastian Fundora celebrates after defeating Keith Thurman in a super welterweight championship boxing match Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Sebastian Fundora celebrates after defeating Keith Thurman in a super welterweight championship boxing match Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)