USMNT vs. South Korea score: USA soccer's ugly form continues as vibes remain low ahead of World Cup

The USA looked poor once again, falling to South Korea 2-0

Heung-min Son was the star of the show as the United States men's national team fell 2-0 to South Korea on Saturday, continuing the Americans' underwhelming form under the Argentine coach. With a goal and an assist, Son took advantage of a USMNT defense, including a debutant in Tristan Blackmon, and Sergino Dest making his first national team appearance since November of 2023. With the clock ticking down to the World Cup, USA coach Mauricio Pochettino has plenty of questions that his team needs to answer after not generating nearly enough in attack. 

Even with this being a match where he wanted to get a better look at an experimental roster, they weren't able to come close to troubling a South Korea side who are the 23rd-ranked team in the world. Add that in with falling in the Gold Cup and Concacaf Nations League, and this is a team that's off the pace of where they should be. This isn't foreign territory as the USMNT also struggled ahead of the 2022 World Cup before making it to the round of 16, but that doesn't make it any less worrisome as time to tinker is running out. With a match facing Japan coming on Tuesday, they'll need to have short memories from this loss to create some sort of much-needed momentum.

This is now the fifth consecutive loss that the USMNT have suffered versus a FIFA top 25 team, and in that time, they've been outscored 11-1. Their last victory in a match of that nature came at the 2022 World Cup over Iran under Gregg Berhalter.

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That's a stat that shows how little has changed in the last four years for this team. Already qualified for the expanded World Cup as one of the hosts, the USMNT are still strong enough to advance out of the group stage, but depending on who they potentially draw in the newly created round of 32, their journey could end right there. With the World Cup being on home soil, that won't be a strong enough result after bringing in Pochettino. 

Expectations within the team are high, and this wasn't the full squad that would likely make it to the World Cup with players such as Malik Tillman, Antonee Robinson, and Weston McKennie absent, but even with those players, the USMNT haven't been able to defeat teams of this caliber. Facing Japan, there will be another chance at gaining a signature win to ease worries, while the October international break will see the USMNT face Paraguay and Uruguay. The clock is ticking.

[Sep 6, 2025 at 5:09 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

It was a poor showing from the USMNT, as no matter what they did, the ball wouldn't go into the net. Heung-min Son cut through the defense for a goal and an assist, and if it wasn't for Matt Freese rushing out of his net constantly, things could've been much worse by the final whistle. The only consolation is that it was just a two goal defeat because things could've been much worse. Alex Freeman was a bright spot when he entered, but overall, this as a match to forget with Japan on the horizon Tuesday.

[Sep 6, 2025 at 7:01 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Pulisic got the ball into an area where you would've thought that it would end up in the back of the net, but that's where this sums up the USMNT night well. After two shots hit the target but didn't go in, Balogun's third went over the bar as the USMNT seeks any sort of consolation goal as stoppage time winds down. 

[Sep 6, 2025 at 6:46 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Despite Sebastian Berhalter being on the pitch, Christian Pulisic still took a free kick and couldn't put it on target from close range. Berhalter has now left the match for Jack McGlynn.

[Sep 6, 2025 at 6:41 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Still doesn't turn into a goal. Balogun had the ball picked off his feet with only the keeper to beat, and the USMNT can't get a shot on target. Things have improved since the introduction of Alex Freeman, but there's still a long way to go.

[Sep 6, 2025 at 6:38 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Alex Zendejas has entered the match with 20 minutes to go.

[Sep 6, 2025 at 6:29 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

After the USMNT didn't improve at the start of the second half, Pochettino is ringing in the changes with Balogun, Roldan, Freeman, and Richards are all entering, and Blackmon, Sargent, Dest, and Weah are all departing. Time to see if that sparks a shift for the USMNT.

[Sep 6, 2025 at 6:20 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Matt Freese is again forced to come out of his box to clean up a South Korea breakaway, and the second half is beginning much like the first ended.

[Sep 6, 2025 at 6:06 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino has designated this month's friendlies as the last chance for fresh faces, cutting things surprisingly close in a surprisingly long period of player pool expansion. It's a valiant idea but considering Pochettino was hired less than two years before the opening match of the World Cup, vetting the entire player pool was always going to be a race against the clock.

It means there's some real tension between Pochettino's strategy and the pressure on the team to perform at the World Cup, and today's first half is doing a lot to suggest this idea has run its course. Tristan Blackmon, earning his first cap today, was suspect on both of South Korea's goal while Max Arfsten has not impressed, either. The USMNT have not actually defended particularly well today as a whole, which makes things all the more troubling with just about 10.5 games left in the road to the World Cup.

Pochettino most certainly has the cover of a friendly, where experimentation should be encouraged. This could all be fine in a month's time, when the head coach said he will start to assemble a core group with the World Cup in mind. Kicking the can down the road for another month, though, has not resulted in an encouraging performance so far in New Jersey.

[Sep 6, 2025 at 6:03 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

A good start is flipping Christian Pulisic and Tim Weah back to their natural positions, but changes need to happen at the half. The USMNT only put one shot on target in the first half of play, and every time South Korea went forward, the USMNT defense imploded. Matt Freese did what he could in net, but when he's not being helped due to the defense not stepping together, this is what happens.

[Sep 6, 2025 at 5:51 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Possession-wise, the USMNT have had the advantage, but they can barely advance the ball past South Korea's defense. Tim Weah has created some good chances out of the gate, but this team is missing balance going forward. Josh Sargent has only touched the ball 10 times, and that's just not enough at this stage of the game.

[Sep 6, 2025 at 5:38 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

The attack has made some things happen, but defensively, this team is beyond out of sorts. No one in the back line has ever played together, and it shows. It may only be a friendly, but sooner than later, Pochettino needs continuity on the pitch so these teams can stop looking like they've just met each other for the first time.

[Sep 6, 2025 at 5:24 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Sebastian Berhalter! This is what you like to see. South Korea turned the ball over playing out of the back, and Berhlater fired in a shot from distance to test the keeper. It may have been saved, but these are the kind of shots that will open up space for the team when they're in possession. 

[Sep 6, 2025 at 5:18 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

The attack has missed his dynamism. It didn't lead to a goal yet, but Dest and Sargent are doing quite a lot in possession in order to keep possession with the USMNT. They're high up the pitch, fighting for second balls in the box, and it's something that the team has been missing in previous matches. Keeping the pressure on South Korea will be critical because this is a team that can hit the USMNT on the break and has already caused some trouble with the ball at their feet in the early going.

[Sep 6, 2025 at 5:14 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Hello from Sports Illustrated Stadium, where the South Korea supporters have very much outnumbered their USMNT counterparts. They have been easy to spot since I started venturing my way out here on public transportation and are really making their presence known -- there are a ton of Son Heung-min jerseys in the crowd but plenty of Tottenham Hotspur jerseys in Harrison, too. The Son effect clearly knows no limits -- I was told there's someone in this very building sporting a Timo Werner Spurs kit. (The rarest of sightings!)

[Sep 6, 2025 at 5:12 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

As soon as they got the ball, it's clear that the USMNT want to push the pace early. Tim Weah had a good spell in possession, but South Korea's defense was set up well. Matt Freese has already been called out of his box to stop a breakaway from Heung-min Son, and this will be a stern test for the USMNT defense.

[Sep 6, 2025 at 4:50 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Just about 10 minutes until the United States get the match rolling.

[Sep 6, 2025 at 4:45 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Mixing in youth and experience, the United States will struggle early in the match with Son Heung-Min continuing his familiarity with Major League Soccer by scoring in another one of the league's stadiums while playing for his national team. The USMNT will get a goal back, eventually ending the match in a draw, but it won't be a convincing enough performance to shed the questions that they're plagued with. Score: USMNT 1, South Korea 1

[Sep 6, 2025 at 4:40 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Much of the news around the USMNT this summer was around who wasn't with the squad during the Concacaf Gold Cup, namely Christian Pulisic who opted to stay home and get some much-needed rest after a long season with Milan. Despite the fact that the Gold Cup usually features the USMNT B team, Pulisic drew criticism from former USMNT players who were questioning his drive. The easiest way to put that behind him is by contributing to the national team during this window now that he's back in the fold. Someone who plays with plenty of pressure every time he puts on a USMNT shirt, it will only build if results don't turn around sooner than later.

[Sep 6, 2025 at 4:35 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

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)

[Sep 6, 2025 at 4:15 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

The race to be the starting nine at the World Cup is on. Balogun will have a chance to earn his first start under Pochettino now that he's fully healthy and in the Monaco setup, but that doesn't mean that he won't have competition. Balogun only has one goal this season and has struggled to replicate his form with Reims since moving to Monaco, but one of the hottest strikers in the world will be ready for an opportunity if it comes his way. Josh Sargent has scored in five consecutive games for Norwich City and has six goals in all competitions to start off the season. It has been five years since he has scored a goal for the USMNT, but that doesn't mean that he isn't still confident in his chances to end that drought during this camp. If Sargent is able to get things going, he could be in a position to start a second consecutive World Cup.

[Sep 6, 2025 at 4:00 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Pochettino has made some changes as Vancouver Whitecaps defender Tristan Blackmon will receive his first cap for the national team.

USMNT starters: Matt Freese, Sergino Dest, Tim Ream, Tristan Blackmon, Max Arfsten, Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Diego Luna, Tim Weah, Christian Pulisic, Josh Sargent

[Sep 6, 2025 at 3:48 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

USMNT predicted 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 

[Sep 6, 2025 at 3:48 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

How to watch USMNT vs. South Korea, odds

• Date: Saturday, Sep. 6 | Time: 5 p.m. ET
• Location: Sports Illustrated Stadium -- Harrison, New Jersey
• TV: TNT | Live stream: Fubo (Try for free)
• Odds: USMNT +125; Draw +230; South Korea +220

[Sep 6, 2025 at 3:47 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

It's almost time for the United States to kick off the September international window, hosting South Korea. Mauricio Pochettino's squad will have a lot of work to do after a poor showing a the Concacaf Gold Cup, but he'll also be getting a look at new faces in the national team setup in the process. Facing a tough South Korea side, if the USMNT aren't organized, it could be a long day at Sports Illustrated Stadium.