U.S. men's soccer in Columbus: what to know about match against Japan

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08 Sep 2025 12:30

NBC4i.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The U.S. men's national soccer team will look to regain its form in the place it has always found success: Columbus.

The USMNT will be in Columbus on Tuesday to face Japan at 7:30 p.m. in a pre-World Cup exhibition at Lower.com Field. It is the first time the team plays in central Ohio in over three years.

Mauricio Pochettino's side will play a handful of friendly matches over the next few months to prepare for next summer's World Cup. Japan poses another difficult test for a team that is looking to beat a top-25 FIFA ranked team.

Here is what to know about Tuesday's match.

USMNT desperate to return to form

Since Pochettino took over as coach, the team has a 10-7 record and has lost six straight games against nations ranked in the top-25 by FIFA. Most recently, the U.S. fell to South Korea 2-0 in Harrison, New Jersey, on Saturday in front of a crowd where the majority were pulling for the Koreans.

Despite making the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, where it fell to Mexico, the U.S.' winning form against non-World Cup caliber teams in the region has yet to translate in these friendlies with more tough matches to come.

Stars like Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, and Folarin Balogun are joined by a roster consisting of numerous MLS players looking to make an impression towards a World Cup roster spot. Among those MLS players in the squad are two from the Columbus Crew: Max Arfsten and Sean Zawadzki. Both will hope the USMNT's good luck charm of Columbus comes through.

Columbus and the national team's love affair

Tuesday will be the 15th game for the U.S. men's team in Columbus. The trips to central Ohio began 25 years ago when the team played Costa Rica at Historic Crew Stadium before the Crew's old stadium became the unofficial home of the U.S.-Mexico rivalry.

In five matches against Mexico at Historic Crew Stadium, the U.S. won four times 2-0, coining Columbus games as "Dos A Cero" in soccer lore. That form has translated into Lower.com Field, with the U.S. winning twice in CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers.

The city has always been among those that brings a majority U.S. crowd for games, but Tuesday marks a first. No Asian men's team has ever played in Columbus, and this Japan team is among the best the U.S. has ever faced in the city.

What to know about Japan

The Samurai Blue sit 17th in the FIFA rankings going into their game against the Americans. The team is fresh after a 0-0 tie in Oakland, California, against Mexico, extending Japan's unbeaten run to five games.

Japan was available to play in a friendly after it was the first team to clinch qualification into the World Cup back in March. One of the Asian powerhouses, Japan has been able to put together multiple great performances at World Cups, most recently winning its 2022 group with wins over Spain and Germany before falling in the Round of 16.

Expectations will be higher for this team in 2026 with the expansion to 48 teams, giving Japan an even better chance to advance in the tournament. The match is also perfect to give the USMNT a chance to see the caliber of opponents it likely will face in the group stages of the World Cup.

Talent is also vast for this side with multiple players that play consistenly for European clubs like captain Wataru Endo of Liverpool, Brighton forward Kaoru Mitoma, and striker Ayase Ueda of Feyenoord.