USMNT to face Korea Republic, Japan in September friendlies as march towards 2026 World Cup continues

The U.S. men's national team will face both Korea Republic and Japan in September as Mauricio Pochettino's team heads towards the 2026 World Cup.

The USMNT will host to Korea Republic on Sept. 6 at Sports Illustrated Stadium, home of the New York Red Bulls. On Sept. 9, the team will take on Japan at the Columbus Crew's Lower.com Field.

The two matchups provide the USMNT with additional tests against two of Asia's best teams on the road to 2026. Following this summer's Gold Cup, the September opportunity will be one of only four international windows before Pochettino selects his 2026 World Cup squad.

The matches against will help fill out the 2025's USMNT schedule, which will get busy this summer. After friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland, the USMNT will play in the Gold Cup in June, which will carry more importance following losses to Panama and Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League.

The USMNT last faced Kore Republic in 2014, winning 2-0 behind two goals from Chris Wondolowski. The team took on Japan ahead of the 2022 World Cup, falling 2-0 in a friendly held in Germany.

The USMNT will be returning to Harrison, New Jersey for the fifth time, and are no strangers to playing in Columbus. The U.S. has a 10-1-3 record across all games at Lower.com Field and its predecessor, Historic Crew Stadium.

The USMNT will play Turkey in East Hartford, Connecticut on June 7. Three days later, they'll face Switzerland in Nashville, before turning focus towards the Gold Cup.