USA vs Belgium - Friendlies

Tactical intrigue takes centre stage on March 28, 2026 as USA and Belgium prepare to square off at the home ground, with both managers known for their strategic nuance in the Friendlies. Just as was the case in the previous meeting between the teams in April of last year, when Emery's side gave them such a scare in the Champions League tie at Villa Park, PSG were hanging on at the end.

Both camps will view the Friendlies meeting at the home ground as an opportunity to put a marker down, regardless of where they currently stand. The hosts will hope that the the home ground crowd can inspire a performance, whatever the numbers suggest. The visitors will back themselves to cause problems and will not make the trip expecting an easy afternoon. Phil Foden was handed a free role in the No 10 position behind striker Muamba, who scored in consecutive pre-season games.

Set-piece efficiency and transition play often decide fixtures of this nature, and both managers will have been drilling those phases on the training ground. It meant City had a three-man defence of Josko Gvardiol, Abdukodir Khusanov and Ruben Dias when in possession.

The fixture boasts genuine star quality. With M. Sabitzer topping the Friendlies scoring charts at 3 goals, the stage is set for the kind of individual brilliance that can swing a contest. The battle in midfield, where both sides look to control tempo, could prove the decisive arena. But this only highlights the gulf between Van Hecke and every other defender in the Premier League even more.

Without the market to lean on, the contest feels genuinely open — and the outcome may come down to which side handles the occasion better. The signals point towards a stalemate, with the two sides closely matched across form and standings. A 1-1 draw is easy to envisage. The ramifications of this result could ripple through the Friendlies standings for weeks to come, regardless of who comes out on top. Manchester City will begin another Premier League season with major uncertainty hanging over the club after league chief executive Richard Masters admitted the long-awaited verdict on their financial case has taken longer than expected.