The U.S. males’s nationwide group have been stretched out at instances in Saturday’s pleasant in opposition to South Korea, a steady theme that ultimately led to a different worrying defeat in World Cup preparation.
Regardless of enhancing within the second half, the Individuals misplaced 2-0 to the Taegeuk Warriors, marking their sixth defeat in eight tries in opposition to a Prime-25 ranked nation for the reason that 2022 FIFA World Cup. On each of South Korea’s first-half objectives, they used their pace and scientific passing to chop via the USMNT protection, using a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
Veteran defender Tim Ream hinted on the personnel modifications within the backline which might’ve performed an element within the defeat whereas captain Tyler Adams admitted the group was gradual to react in opposition to South Korea’s dynamic attacking entrance.
“There have been moments the place guys have been getting pulled [out] just a little bit greater than we normally do and just a little bit greater than we work on,” Ream mentioned in a postgame blended zone to reporters. “And once more, it’s a kind of issues that you just take a look at a number of guys who it’s their first recreation again with the nationwide group. Tristan [Blackmon], it’s his very first recreation, first cap, so it was certain to occur just a little bit, I believe just a little little bit of eagerness to attempt to get to areas that we perhaps essentially couldn’t get to.”
“I believe our roles obtained just a little bit twisted,” Adams added. “They discovered options fairly simply within the first half. We talked about it at halftime…And I believe we simply missed our [defensive] triggers on a whole lot of them and we have been just a little bit too late to leap, and once you’re too late to leap, you find yourself chasing shadows, and that’s what it felt like at instances.”
The USMNT has now misplaced six residence matches in 2025, marking the fourth time in program historical past that this system has earned that un-wanted statistic. They’ve failed to point out a lot consistency underneath Pochettino regardless of reaching the CONCACAF Gold Cup Closing in July.
Fortunately for the USMNT, they’ve 5 matches left this 12 months, with 4 of these fixtures coming in opposition to groups ranked within the Prime-25. There are nonetheless alternatives to attempt to flip issues round, particularly with extra friendlies developing in 2026 earlier than World Cup play begins.
Whereas Pochettino has admitted that he’s in search of constructive performances throughout these friendlies, Adams voiced his hopes within the USMNT choosing up victories too.
“I imply, I like the sensation of successful, so I want to win video games earlier than the World Cup,” Adams mentioned. “However I perceive [Pochettino’s] thought course of and we talked about it in there may be you might nonetheless have good performances and never essentially get the outcome. However yeah, I believe at a sure time it’s essential to have some outcomes.”
The USMNT’s subsequent alternative to earn a win will come on Tuesday in opposition to No. 17-ranked Japan in Columbus, Ohio.