Alex Zendejas and Folarin Balogun scored goals for the USMNT in the 2-0 win.
The U.S. desperately needed a positive outcome on Tuesday night after a humbling 2-0 defeat against South Korea on Saturday.
The USMNT’s next matches come against Ecuador (Oct. 10) and Australia (Oct. 14).
Mauricio Pochettino and the U.S. men’s national soccer team got the bounce-back performance it desperately needed.
The USMNT defeated Japan, 2-0, on Tuesday, Sept. 9 in Columbus, Ohio, on goals from Alex Zendejas and Folarin Balogun. The victory came three days after a humbling 2-0 defeat against South Korea in Harrison, New Jersey.
Zendejas opened the scoring in the 30th minute with a spectacular volley off a long pass from teammate Max Arfsten, who was playing in the home stadium of his club team, the Columbus Crew. Balogun doubled the U.S. lead in the 64th minute with a nifty goal of his own as Pochettino’s squad earned a much-needed victory against a Japan side that already has qualified for the 2026 World Cup.
While Tuesday’s game was just a friendly, the USMNT needed a positive outcome after some disappointing performances — the team has endured six defeats in 2025. Even with Tuesday night’s win, Pochettino’s record with the USMNT is a less than stellar 10-1-7 since taking over as coach in September 2024. Pochettino has precious little time to turn around what has been an underperforming national team squad before next summer’s World Cup.
The USMNT’s next two matches (both friendlies) come in the next FIFA international match window in October. The U.S. will play Ecuador in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 10 before playing Australia in Colorado on Oct. 14.
USMNT vs. Japan highlights
USMNT 2, Japan 0: Folarin Balogun rewarded to excellent finish
Folarin Balogun netted his sixth career goal for the U.S. in the 64th minute with a terrific finish that got past Japan goalkeeper Keisuke Osako.
Balogun’s left-footed shot from the left side of the box came after an assist from Christian Pulisic.
The U.S. has been cruising in this one, with Japan unable to mount a significant threat to score.
Halftime: Alex Zendejas’ goal the difference at intermission
Alex Zendejas’ goal in the 30th minute remains the only tally of Tuesday night’s friendly so far.
The USMNT had eight shot attempts with five on target, compared to four shots on goal on seven attempts for Japan.
The U.S. enjoyed a 62%-to-38% advantage in possession as the team aims to end a two-game losing streak.
USMNT 1, Japan 0: Alex Zendejas nets his first international goal since 2023
The USA and Japan went a half hour of play before Alex Zendejas finally tallied the game’s first goal in the 30th minute. For Zendejas, it was his second goal for the USMNT and first since March 2023 when he scored in a 7-1 rout of Grenada in Concacaf Nations League play.
Max Arfsten earned the assist with a cross to Zendejas, who slammed home the goal on the long volley from the Columbus Crew player.
The USMNT had enjoyed the possession advantage against Japan through the game’s first 30 minutes, and it paid off with a brilliant strike.
How to watch USMNT vs. Japan: Time, TV, streaming
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 9
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Lower.com Field (Columbus, Ohio)
TV channel: TNT (English); Telemundo, Universo (Spanish)
Streaming: Max, Sling TV (English); Peacock (Spanish)
Stream USMNT vs. Japan on Sling TV
USMNT starting 11 vs. Japan
USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino has tabbed four different starters from his lineup for Saturday’s 2-0 loss to South Korea.
Defender Chris Richards, midfielder Cristian Roldan, and forwards Folarin Balogun and Alex Zendejas get the start Tuesday night. All four came on as substitutions on Saturday.
Sebastian Berhalter, Sergiño Dest, Diego Luna and Josh Sargent each started on Saturday, but will open this game on the bench.
For Christian Pulisic, this will be his 80th career USMNT cap. Max Arfsten makes the start in the home stadium of his club team, the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer.
Japan starting 11 vs. USMNT
The Samurai Blue currently are on a 13-match unbeaten streak that dates back to February 2024.
In the most recent matchup against the U.S., Japan prevailed 2-0 in a 2022 World Cup tune-up match in Düsseldorf. Germany.
Japan was the first team (non-host nation) to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
USMNT roster for September friendlies
Goalkeepers (3): Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Jonathan Klinsmann (Cesena/Italy)
Defenders (8): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Noahkai Banks (FC Augsburg/Germany), Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps/Canada), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/Netherlands), Alex Freeman (Orlando City SC), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/England)
Midfielders (7): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/England), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps/Canada), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Sean Zawadski (Columbus Crew)
Forwards (6): Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco/France), Damion Downs (Southampton/England), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/Italy), Josh Sargent (Norwich City/England), Tim Weah (Marseille/France), Alex Zendejas (Club América/Mexico)
Japan roster for USMNT friendly
Goalkeepers (3): Zion Suzuki (Parma/Italy), Keisuke Ōsako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Antlers)
Defenders (7): Yūto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Kō Itakura (Ajax/Netherlands), Ayumu Seko (Le Havre/France), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord/Netherlands), Hayato Araki (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Hiroki Sekine (Reims/France), Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen/Germany)
Midfielders (11): Wataru Endo (Liverpool/England), Takumi Minamino (Monaco/France), Junya Itō (Genk/Belgium), Ritsu Dōan (Eintracht Frankfurt/Germany), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad/Spain), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton & Hove Albion/England), Kaishu Sano (Mainz 05/Germany), Joel Chima Fujita (FC St. Pauli/Germany), Henry Heroki Mochizuki (Machida Zelvia), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace/England), Kodai Sano (NEC Nijmegen/Netherlands)
Forwards (6): Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord/Netherlands), Daizen Maeda (Celtic/Scotland), Mao Hosoya (Kashiwa Reysol), Kōki Ogawa (NEC Nijmegen/Netherlands), Shūto Machino (Borussia Mönchengladbach/Germany), Yuito Suzuki (SC Freiburg/Germany)
USMNT’s Alex Freeman is the son of Super Bowl winner Antonio Freeman
Alex Freeman, a 21-year-old defender who plays professionally for Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer, is the son of former NFL wide receiver Antonio Freeman.
Antonio Freeman spent eight of his nine NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers, helping the team win Super Bowl XXXI. In that victory, Freeman had an 81-yard touchdown reception.
Alex Freeman, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland, signed a homegrown deal with Orlando City in 2022. He made his debut with the team on April 29, 2023 during a win over the LA Galaxy. Alex Freeman made his USMNT debut as a starter in the team’s 2-1 defeat against Turkey on June 7, and earned his ninth national team cap with a start against Japan.
USMNT to face Portugal in March friendly, per reports
The U.S. men’s national team is set to face Portugal in a March friendly, according to multiple reports.
Fox Sports reported that the USMNT-Portugal match would take place at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The 71,000-seat venue could also potentially host a match against Belgium, though Washington, D.C. and other locations are also being considered. — Seth Vertelney, Pro Soccer Wire
Mauricio Pochettino frustrated with Tim Weah’s position at Marseille
Mauricio Pochettino has expressed frustration with the amount of fullback Tim Weah has played early in his time at Marseille.
Weah has alternated between fullback and winger during the past few years of his club career, taking him from Lille to Juventus and now back to France with Marseiile.
Mauricio Pochettino: Results won’t matter until the World Cup
HARRISON, N.J. — Mauricio Pochettino has dismissed the need to win friendlies leading up to the World Cup, saying that results will only matter when the tournament kicks off next summer.
The U.S. men’s national team fell 2-0 against South Korea on Saturday, Sept. 6, as goals from Son Heung-min and Lee Dong-gyeon in the first half settled the match at Sports Illustrated Stadium.
Pochettino has now lost seven of 17 games during his tenure as USMNT head coach, particularly struggling against high-quality sides.
In 2025 alone, the USMNT has lost to Panama, Canada, Türkiye, Switzerland, Mexico and South Korea. — Seth Vertelney, Pro Soccer Wire
USMNT 2025 schedule and results
Jan. 20 (friendly) — United States 3, Venezuela 1
Jan. 22 (friendly) — United States 3, Costa Rica 0
March 20 (Concacaf Nations League) — Panama 1, United States 0
March 23 (Concacaf Nations League third-place match) — Canada 2, United States 1
June 7 (friendly) — Türkiye 2, United States 1
June 10 (friendly) — Switzerland 4, United States 0
June 15 (Concacaf Gold Cup) — United States 5, Trinidad and Tobago 0
June 19 (Concacaf Gold Cup) — United States 1, Saudi Arabia 0
June 22 (Concacaf Gold Cup) — United States 2, Haiti 1
June 29 (Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinal) — United States 2, Costa Rica 2 (U.S. won penalty shootout, 4-3)
July 2 (Concacaf Gold Cup semifinal) — United States 2, Guatemala 1
July 6 (Concacaf Gold Cup final) — Mexico 2, United States 1
Sept. 6 (friendly) — South Korea 2, United States 0
Sept. 9 (friendly) — United States vs. Japan, 7:30 p.m. ET (Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio)
Oct. 10 (friendly) — United States vs. Ecuador, 8:30 p.m. ET (Q2 Stadium, Austin, Texas)
Oct. 14 (friendly) — United States vs. Australia, 9 p.m. ET (Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colorado)
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