Belgian debutant misses no MLS second: 'Matches sometimes feel like friendlies'

Belgian striker Hugo Cuypers earned his first national team call-up after years abroad, joining Monterrey in Mexico where he says the intensity rivals Europe.

Hugo Cuypers has received his first call-up to the Belgian national team for Nations League matches against Turkey and Italy, selected by coach Mark van Bommel. The 29-year-old striker endured a grueling journey to join the squad after his flight made an emergency landing in Florida when a passenger fell ill, causing him to miss the initial Madrid gathering and sleep only three hours during the 24-hour ordeal.

Cuypers has played across Europe for Standard Liège, RFC Seraing, Ergotelis, Olympiakos, AJ Ajaccio, KV Mechelen and AA Gent before a spell at Chicago Fire. He now plays for Monterrey in Mexico's Liga MX, a choice he does not regret. He believes the Mexican league is stronger than MLS, with higher intensity and a style closer to European football.

"In the MLS, matches feel almost like friendlies until the play-offs," he said. He left Chicago partly due to the lack of passion in American football, where the sport lacks priority for many players and supporters. In Liga MX, six or seven clubs regularly draw 40,000 to 50,000 fans.

Cuypers was moved by Van Bommel's call, saying his parents were emotional about the news. He previously came close to World Cup selection under Rudi Garcia but missed out. He views this first call-up not as a reward but as recognition of his work over recent years and a next step in his career.