Match Preview: USMNT Closes September Window against Japan, Presented by Allstate
The U.S. Men’s National Team Faces World Cup-bound Japan in Columbus, Ohio, in a storied city for the National Team
ATLANTA (Sept. 9, 2025) — The U.S. Men’s National Team gets another chance at a world-class opponent against Japan. The Asian powerhouse qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in March as the first country outside of host nations to qualify.
USA-Japan, presented by Allstate, comes nearly 25 years after the USMNT’s first visit to Columbus, Ohio and what has become a special place in U.S. Soccer history. Lower.com Field and the USMNT welcome the 17th-ranked Japanese side on Sept. 9, with the match kicking off at 7:30 p.m. ET and available on TNT, HBO Max, Universo, and Peacock.
The match will also be carried live on radio as Westwood One Sports delivers English language commentary as the official audio partner of U.S. Soccer, while Fútbol de Primera has the Spanish language call.
DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Club/Country; Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati; 0/0), Matt Freese (New York City FC; 8/0), Jonathan Klinsmann (Cesena/ITA; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (8): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew; 11/1), Noahkai Banks (FC Augsburg/GER; 0/0), Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 1/0), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven/NED; 34/2), Alex Freeman (Orlando City; 8/0), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union; 1/0), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC; 76/1), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace/ENG; 32/3)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth/ENG; 51/2), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 7/0), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC; 31/1), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 13/3), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo; 12/2), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 38/0)
FORWARDS (6): Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco/FRA; 18/5), Damion Downs (Southampton/ENG; 5/0), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/ITA; 79/32) Josh Sargent (Norwich/ENG; 29/5), Tim Weah (Marseille/FRA; 45/7), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 12/1)
A “FORTRESS” ADVANTAGE
The backdrop for the USMNT vs. Japan in Columbus, Ohio, poses a historical advantage for the U.S. The Americans have won 10 of 14 matches in the state’s capital and some in really big moments. The USA has won nine World Cup Qualifying matches, including two pivotal ones on the way to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. First, the USMNT beat Costa Rica 2-1 on Oct. 13, 2021. Then the USA won 1-0 against El Salvador on Jan. 27, 2022. Five players who played in at least one of those matches return on this roster— Sergiño Dest, Chris Richards, Tyler Adams, Tim Weah and Christian Pulisic. Before that, it became the birthplace of the “Dos a Cero” chant as the USMNT beat Mexico 2-0 in a World Cup Qualifying match in 2001.
80 CAP CLUB
Christian Pulisic leads all players on the roster with 79 appearances. On Tuesday, he has a chance to earn his 80th cap. It’s a club that only 30 other USMNT players have joined in history. The cap total is the most of any active player. Center back Tim Ream made his 76th appearance in Saturday’s match vs. Korea Republic. Midfielder Tyler Adams is the only other active player with more than 50 caps. The last player to reach 80 caps was DeAndre Yedlin in 2023.
HOME BOYS
Columbus will feel like home to a pair of U.S. players available for selection Tuesday. Max Arfsten currently laces them up for the Columbus Crew. He was a member of the 2023 MLS Cup-winning side, hosted at Lower.com Field, the site of the tilt on Sept. 9 against Japan. In addition to making his USMNT debut in 2025, Arfsten was selected to this year’s MLS All-Star Team.
Sebastian Berhalter began his professional career in Columbus, playing for the Crew for one season in 2020 and progressed through the pathway of the Columbus Crew academy, from 2014-2019, featuring for the Under-13/14, U-15/16, U-16/17 and U-18/19 sides.
The story between these teams is a short one with the USA and Japan having met just three times in nearly 20 years with the first encounter in 1993. In 2006, a goal and two assists from Taylor Twellman paced the USA to a 3-2 win in a World Cup tune-up match in San Francisco. The teams squared off again ahead of a World Cup in 2022, this time in the penultimate match before heading to Qatar. Matt Turner made six saves in the 2-0 defeat in Düsseldorf. Germany, before the USA went on to advance to the Round of 16 in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Samurai Blue are on a roll, currently carrying a 13-match unbeaten run dating back February of 2024. Japan holds the distinction of becoming the first team to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They have qualified for the tournament’s final competition eight consecutive times and have reached the Round of 16 of the last two World Cups.
THEY SAID IT
“It’s super exciting. I love playing here in Columbus with our fans, and to be able to play with the U.S. and hopefully garner that same support. I think it’s going to be great.” Max Arfsten
“We always have a good crowd here. For me, personally, my mom’s family is from here. So, it’s always a little bit extra when I come play in Columbus. I’m really excited for [match vs. Japan]. It’s just another chance to wear the crest and hopefully win another game and get momentum towards the World Cup.” Chris Richards
“I think [the chemistry] has been great, honestly. The guys that weren’t in the [Concacaf] Gold Cup and the guys that were, I think it’s been almost the same as the Gold Cup. Guys coming in and just being themselves, and I think that’s important in this environment. We don’t have a lot of days to get to know people. That’s been the fun part for me to meet new guys and gel with different guys.” Sebastian Berhalter
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