Tuesday’s friendly against Japan isn’t really about the final score. It’s about whether the U.S. men’s national team can find some conviction. The Americans come into Columbus stuck in a rut, winless against top competition this year and coming off another humbling loss to South Korea.
For Mauricio Pochettino, the job isn’t to silence critics in September — it’s building a foundation for June 2026, when the World Cup kicks off in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. That, he insists, takes patience, clarity and a steady hand. On Monday, he fired back at the mounting criticism, dismissing it as “bulls***” and “shameful,” and urged a focus on long-term progress over friendly results.
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Japan provides exactly the kind of disciplined, World Cup-caliber test that can expose flaws but also deliver valuable lessons. Oddsmakers at BetMGM see Japan as the favorite at +120, with the U.S. listed as +210 underdogs.
Pochettino’s rocky tenure won’t be defined by Tuesday’s outcome, but how his team responds to setbacks will. Still, a win would go a long way toward reinforcing belief that he’s the right man to lead the Stars and Stripes into next summer’s tournament.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Lower.com Field in Columbus. Follow along for live updates below:
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 9
Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Lower.com Field | Columbus, Ohio
TV/Streaming: TNT and Telemundo; Streaming on Max, Universo and Peacock
AloJapan.com