Hydration breaks and jersey mix-up mar USMNT-Belgium indoor tune-up
An indoor, climate-controlled USMNT vs Belgium friendly featured mandatory hydration breaks to mirror World Cup conditions, prompting tactical pauses from both coaches. Pochettino criticized the breaks for breaking rhythm, while Garcia welcomed them as strategic, and players noted safety and fit considerations. A jersey mix-up—US wearing stripes against Belgium’s lighter away kit—caused visibility confusion on the field, with US Soccer later clarifying the selection process.