The United States Men`s National Team (USMNT) is back on the field for the first time since their Concacaf Gold Cup final defeat to Mexico. This international break presents an opportunity for Coach Mauricio Pochettino and his squad to move past that setback, as they face South Korea and Japan. Both Asian nations have already secured their spots in the 2026 World Cup and are looking to test their strength against top-tier opponents.
The upcoming match holds a special significance for Pochettino, as it will be a reunion with his former Tottenham player, Son Heung-Min, who will captain South Korea. Pochettino expressed his anticipation for this encounter.
“It`s going to be an amazing opportunity to see each other. We really love each other. He was a very important player, one of the most important players during my period in Tottenham. I also was always chasing him because when I was in Southampton, I wanted to sign him, but he decided to go to a different club. He moved from Hamburg to Bayer Leverkusen. When we moved to Tottenham, we chased him again, and we convinced him to join us in Tottenham. After 10 years, his relationship at Tottenham is one of the best players in the world. He`s an amazing player, but he`s an amazing person and unbelievable, and yes, it`s going to be really, really nice.”
Expected USMNT Starting Lineup
- Matt Freese
- Sergino Dest
- Tim Ream
- Tristan Blackmon
- Max Arfsten
- Tyler Adams
- Sebastian Berhalter
- Diego Luna
- Tim Weah
- Christian Pulisic
- Josh Sargent
A victory against South Korea, currently ranked 23rd by FIFA, would provide the USMNT with a significant boost. Following this, a match against 17th-ranked Japan makes this one of the most challenging international windows for the USMNT outside of a major tournament. With an experimental squad, Pochettino aims to evaluate his player pool, providing them with opportunities to excel and pushing them to demonstrate their capabilities ahead of the World Cup.
The USMNT has faced setbacks under Pochettino`s leadership, including losses to Mexico, Panama (twice), Canada, Turkiye, and Switzerland. While these results might not inspire confidence, a strong performance in this September window could significantly alter the team`s trajectory and build momentum for future challenges.
Match Information: USMNT vs. South Korea
- Date: Saturday, September 6
- Time: 5 p.m. ET
- Location: Sports Illustrated Stadium — Harrison, New Jersey
- TV: TNT
- Live stream: Fubo
- Odds: USMNT +125; Draw +230; South Korea +220
Predicted USMNT Lineup
- Matt Freese
- Sergino Dest
- Chris Richards
- Noahkai Banks
- Max Arfsten
- Tyler Adams
- Luca De La Torre
- Diego Luna
- Tim Weah
- Christian Pulisic
- Josh Sargent
Match Prediction
The United States is expected to field a mix of youth and experienced players, which might lead to early struggles. Son Heung-Min is predicted to score, continuing his familiarity with MLS stadiums. However, the USMNT is likely to find an equalizer, resulting in a draw. This outcome, though, may not fully address the lingering questions surrounding the team`s performance.
Final Score: USMNT 1, South Korea 1.
USMNT Full Roster
Goalkeepers (3):
- Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati; 0/0)
- Matt Freese (New York City FC; 7/0)
- Jonathan Klinsmann (Cesena/ITA; 0/0)
Defenders (8):
- Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew; 10/1)
- Noahkai Banks (FC Augsburg/GER; 0/0)
- Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 0/0)
- Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 33/2)
- Alex Freeman (Orlando City; 7/0)
- Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union; 1/0)
- Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 74/1)
- Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 31/3)
Midfielders (7):
- Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/ENG; 50/2)
- Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 6/0)
- Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC; 31/1)
- Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 12/3)
- Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo; 11/2)
- Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 37/0)
- Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew; 1/0)
Forwards (6):
- Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco/FRA; 17/5)
- Damion Downs (Southampton/ENG; 5/0)
- Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 78/32)
- Josh Sargent (Norwich/ENG; 28/5)
- Tim Weah (Marseille/FRA; 44/7)
- Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 11/1)
