USMNT Falls to Portugal 2-0 to End March International Break Ahead of World Cup

Atlanta — The United States men’s national team closed its March window with another sobering defeat, falling 2-0 to Portugal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Tuesday night and extending a winless run against European opposition that now stretches to ten matches.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino, still searching for the right formula barely three months before the 2026 World Cup opener, overhauled his lineup after Saturday’s 5-2 loss to Belgium. Christian Pulisic was asked to lead the line as a false nine, Tim Weah pushed up to right wing, and 20-year-old Alex Freeman earned a first senior start at right-back. In goal, Matt Freese reclaimed the No. 1 shirt from Matt Turner, while Chris Richards and Auston Trusty were paired in central defense.

The rejigged XI showed early industry on the ball, but the cohesion never materialized. In the 36th minute, a loose pass allowed Portugal to pounce. Bruno Fernandes threaded a pass between Richards and Trusty, darted into the box, and flicked a back-heel into the path of Francisco Trincao, who finished clinically for the opener.

The Americans emerged from halftime needing a response, and Pochettino turned to his bench, introducing Patrick Agyemang, Max Arfsten and Tanner Tessman for Pulisic, Antonee Robinson and Weston McKennie. Agyemang, whose late strike had provided a rare highlight against Belgium, nearly sparked another moment of hope, but the U.S. could not unsettle backup keeper Jose Sa.

Portugal sealed the result in the 58th minute from a well-rehearsed corner. Fernandes’ delivery found Joao Felix unmarked at the top of the box; the forward took a touch and curled a precise left-footed effort inside the far post, leaving Freese no chance.

Expected goals narrowly favored Portugal 0.74 to 0.68, illustrating a match short on clear-cut opportunities. The Selecao finished with 62 percent possession and five shots on target to the Americans’ three. The defeat is the eighth straight for the USMNT against European sides and leaves the squad without a victory in such fixtures since 2021, having been outscored 22-6 across that span.

Pulisic’s personal drought also deepened. The captain has not scored for his country since November 2024, an eight-game stretch, and has gone 12 matches without a club goal for AC Milan since late December 2025.

Attention now turns to a compressed pre-World Cup schedule. The U.S. will meet Senegal in a May 31 friendly before facing Germany on June 6 in a send-off match. With the tournament opener fewer than 100 days away, Pochettino must quickly find solutions to a defense prone to costly lapses and an attack still searching for a reliable finisher.