COLUMBUS, Ohio – A U.S. men’s national team desperate for some positivity and confidence secured a 2-0 win over Japan on Tuesday night in what was one of its best performances of the year under coach Mauricio Pochettino.
The victory came with some caveats. Japan made 11 substitutions from the lineup it fielded against Mexico on the weekend, so it was a ‘B’ squad relative to the team that will compete at the World Cup. And the U.S. did concede some dangerous chances. But playing in a 3-4-3 formation, the U.S. looked more comfortable and confident both in how it attacked and defended.
It was just the first win in eight tries over a top-30 FIFA-ranked team under Pochettino since he took over last October. Japan is currently ranked No. 17.
The formation change played to the strength of more players, including Alex Freeman and Max Arfsten at wingback. And the Americans looked more dangerous with Folarin Balogun starting up top at the No. 9 spot and Christian Pulisic and Alex Zendejas playing off of him.
Two of those players combined on the first goal, with the more attack-minded Arfsten beating a defender with a stepover on the left wing and delivering a dangerous ball into the box that Zendejas finished cleanly with a one-time, left-footed volley inside the far post. On the second goal, it was Pulisic and Balogun combining, with the U.S. No. 10 feeding Balogun in behind Japan’s back line and the Monaco striker using a strong stiff-arm to hold off a defender and finish to the far post.
On the volley. Into the lead. Alex Zendejas blasts one home!#USMNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/oVkdNcdKaW
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) September 10, 2025
Balo doubles the advantage!#USMNT x @VW pic.twitter.com/DD765BQQGl
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) September 10, 2025
The U.S. mostly looked more stable overall, a nod to a strong outing from late squad addition Cristian Roldan, who partnered with Tyler Adams in central midfield.
The U.S. was also playing in front of its first pro-U.S. crowd since the Gold Cup quarterfinal against Costa Rica this summer. Columbus has long been considered the spiritual home of the U.S., staging multiple “Dos A Cero” wins over Mexico and most recently wins over the Ticos and El Salvador during the last World Cup qualifying cycle. And on a night when the U.S. needed a positive result, Columbus served as the backdrop for another useful occasion.
Here’s a deeper look at the USMNT’s rebound victory:
The switch to a back three works
For the first time as U.S. boss, in his 18th game at the helm, Pochettino started with three center backs in a 3-4-3.
When he took charge 12 months ago, this was not part of his vision. “We are going to try to plan to play using two systems — one 4-2-3-1, and one 4-3-3,” Pochettino said on the eve of his first camp. But in Saturday’s loss to South Korea, down 2-0 after 60 minutes, he went to three at the back, and the U.S. improved.
Ahead of Tuesday’s game, when asked about starting with a back three, he spoke about how this is an “opportunity” that automatic qualification for the World Cup affords. “If you are in the qualification, you cannot do some tests like this,” he said. And sure enough, he rolled out Chris Richards alongside Tim Ream and Tristan Blackmon. He brought Freeman in as the right wingback. Zendejas and Pulisic flanked Balogun in attack.
“Today is a very good chance for us to try to see our players in a different system, different approach,” Pochettino said pregame.
And then, for at least 45 minutes, he probably liked what he saw.
The new shape especially benefitted Arfsten. He has looked vulnerable as a left back throughout 2025. He looked far more comfortable as a wingback. The extra center back behind him protected him defensively, and allowed him to charge forward — including in the 30th minute, in the buildup to the first U.S. goal. He played Balogun toward the corner, then continued his run into the box. As the U.S. recycled possession, Arfsten himself recycled to the left wing, where he eventually received the ball, dropped a stepover and swung in the decisive cross.
Folarin Balogun started and scored for the USMNT vs. Japan (Adam Cairns / Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY Network / Imagn Images)
Balogun seizes the lead in the striker battle
Two weeks ago, when Pochettino named his September roster, it looked like yet another glorious opportunity for Josh Sargent to stake his claim to the No. 9 position. Sargent and Damion Downs were the only strikers in the squad, with Brian White having withdrawn due to injury. He hadn’t scored for the national team in nearly six years, but once again, it seemed, he would get a chance to start and snap the burdensome streak.
On Saturday, he got that chance, and didn’t take it. He was, metaphorically, eaten alive by Korean center back Kim Min-jae, and replaced after 61 minutes by Balogun, who was better.
So, on Tuesday, Balogun — a late call-up after regaining fitness at his club, Monaco — started, and offered many things Sargent hasn’t. (Sargent, meanwhile, was not even among the eight players seen warming up during the second half.)
Balogun was active and effective running the channels. He was strong and sharp with his back to goal, linking with Freeman and then running in behind on one memorable first-half sequence. He combined with Pulisic in the box and had a shot blocked from close range.
Then, in the second half, with a trademark run and a precise finish, he got his goal.
Nine months out from the World Cup, Balogun is clearly the favorite to start up top.
Alex Zendejas scores for the USMNT vs Japan (Koji Watanabe / Getty Images)
Fringe players state their case
Other key puzzle pieces in the 3-4-3 also helped themselves with strong performances. Opposite Arfsten, Freeman was strong and justified Pochettino’s decision to give the 21-year-old an extended look ahead of Joe Scally. Freeman is imperfect — he occasionally switches off defensively and misfires in the final third — but he can hang at this level. He has played himself onto the right side of the World Cup roster bubble.
Zendejas, starting his first game for the U.S. since the 2023 Gold Cup, at a position where the USMNT lacks depth, also stated his case with the goal. And Roldan, less than a week removed from vacation, was far better Tuesday – with more responsibility – than Sebastian Berhalter was Saturday. He wasn’t great on the ball, but he was active defensively, covering all three thirds of the field. He nearly won a penalty with a counterpress in the 88th minute.
Roldan wasn’t even on Pochettino’s provisional roster for this September camp. Then, like Berhalter months earlier, he performed well against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in a high-profile knockout game. Three days later, while at a lake house with family and teammates in central Washington, he got the call. Now, suddenly, he might be a real contender for a reserve midfield role next summer.
Christian Pulisic capped his September window with an assist vs. Japan (Koji Watanabe / Getty Images)
Assessing Pulisic’s impact upon his return
Back in the U.S. squad for the first time since March’s Concacaf Nations League games, Pulisic set up Balogun with an assist in the second half in what was an otherwise average performance.
Pulisic, playing more often in the pockets in the 3-4-3 formation, looked to get on the ball often throughout the game, but was often dropping deep to find it. He combined with Balogun a few times in the first half to create some half-chances, but was mostly unable to find the space to create chances for himself.
The U.S. is normally at its best when Pulisic is involved, and this camp was especially important to reintegrate him into the team after a summer dominated by headlines around his decision to skip the Gold Cup. Pulisic opted out because he said he needed some rest to optimize his chances to be at his best for next summer’s World Cup, but the decision — and his public comments towards critics of it — caused headaches. Pulisic and Pochettino sparred over Pulisic’s desire to play in pre-tournament friendlies and Pochettino’s decision not to include him for those games.
The coach insisted that the issues were in the past going into this window, and Pulisic got a goal contribution to put a final mark on his return to the international fold. The star winger got a loud ovation from the home crowd when he came off just after Balogun’s goal, and he raised his hands above his head to applaud the fans in Columbus.
(Top photo: John Dorton / ISI Photos / USSF / Getty Images)
