Landon Donovan blasts USMNT after 5-2 loss to Belgium

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JULY 06: Fox Sports soccer announcing team Rob Stone, Landon Donovan, Maurice Edu, and Alexi Lalas prior to the United States playing Mexico during the finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2025 at NRG Stadium on July 06, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images) | Getty Images The United States men’s national team suffered a brutal 5-2 loss to Belgium in a friendly over the weekend. And now one of their former stars is raising red flags about the potential “psychological damage” the loss could cause.

Landon Donovan, speaking with The Athletic , blasted the USMNT after the loss, questioning whether the team has enough “pride” on the pitch months ahead of the World Cup and raising some concerns before the games count for real. “We were very clear in our identity. We were never worried about conceding five goals – that would never, ever have happened.

We might have lost games and we did. But that was never in the conversation — ever. For this team, I am concerned.

There’s no question that conceding five goals at home three months before the World Cup is going to do psychological damage to the team and the players,“ began Donovan. The USMNT is back in action tonight against Portugal, and by the time this match begins the team will finally know who will join them in group play at the World Cup this summer. Kosovo and Türkiye will play for the final Group D slot earlier in the day at Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri, with the winner joining the U.