ATLANTA (Sept. 6, 2025) — With quality competition both internal and external, the U.S. Men’s National Team kicks off the two-game September set against World Cup-bound opponents tomorrow night.
The USA will first host Korea Republic, presented by Haleon, on Sept. 6 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. Kickoff from the home of the New York Red Bulls is set for 5 p.m. ET, with the match broadcast live on TNT and Telemundo, and streamed on HBO Max, Universo, and Peacock.
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 15th-ranked Japanese side on Sept. 9, with the match kicking off at 7:30 p.m. ET and available on TNT, Max, Universo, and Peacock.
Both matches will be carried live on radio as Westwood One Sports delivers English language commentary from on-site for the first time while longtime partner Fútbol de Primera has the Spanish language call.
Fans can follow the USMNT on X (@USMNT, Instagram (@USMNT, Facebook and the official U.S. Soccer App.
DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Club/Country; Caps/Goals)
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; 75/1), 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)
ROSTER UPDATE
U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Mauricio Pochettino added midfielder Cristian Roldan to the roster on Wednesday, bringing the squad total to 24 players.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup veteran has amassed 37 career appearances for the United States. The 30-year-old Seattle Sounders midfielder has 38 appearances for his club in 2025, including matches against three different continental champions (PSG, Botafogo and Cruz Azul). He became the first field player in club history to reach 350 career starts in all competitions.
CP THE CAPWINNER
Christian Pulisic leads all players on the roster with a total of 78 appearances. Tim Ream (75) and Tyler Adams (50) round out the 50-and-over club with Tim Weah having 44 under his belt. Sergiño Dest will be looking to add to his 33-cap total – more below - while Luca de la Torre and Chris Richards each reached 31 caps during this summer’s second-place finish at the Gold Cup.
MOVING ON UP
After two years at Juventus in Italy’s Serie A, forward Tim Weah is back to France and Champions League football. The 25-year-old transferred to Olympique de Marseille in Ligue 1, completing his tenure at Juventus with seven goals in 78 appearances. Marseille finished second in Ligue 1 last year behind Champions League winners PSG.
Weah follows in the footsteps of his father, George, who also played for Marseille during his career.
SERG-ING AND FLO-ING
Sergiño Dest is poised to make his first appearances for the USMNT since helping the USA claim the Concacaf Nations League title in March 2024. After recovering from a ruptured ACL, Dest joined the camp this past summer, but the timing proved a bit too early for his return to game action during the Gold Cup. The PSV defender has started the Eredivisie campaign strongly, posting two goals and an assist in four matches including the game-winner in the Dutch Super Cup.
Meantime, the USMNT welcomes the return of Folarin Balogun. The 24-year-old joins the USMNT for the first time since Pochettino took the reins last fall after a series of injuries prevented him from being able to participate in prior camps. The AS Monaco striker has five goals in 17 career appearances for the United States.
DOWNS AND UP
Damion Downs’ Southampton will be looking to make a quick return to the English Premier League after being relegated at the end of last season. For now, they will compete in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football.
After contributing 15 goals + assists to lead the second-tier German side FC Köln to a division title and promotion to the Bundesliga, Downs will look to do the same for Southampton. He was part of the Gold Cup roster for the United States and delivered the game-sealing penalty kick against Costa Rica in Minneapolis that sent the U.S. through to the semifinals.
HOME BOYS
The stadiums in Harrison and Columbus will feel like home to a host of the U.S. players on this roster. Tim Ream was drafted 18th overall by the New York Red Bulls in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft and was a finalist for Rookie of the Year that season. Tyler Adams had a well-documented rise through the Red Bull Academy all the way to the First Team. Tim Weah spent a year in the same academy before beginning his European adventure at PSG.
Meantime, Max Arfsten and Sean Zawadzki currently lace them up for the Columbus Crew. The pair were members 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.
FIRST TIME IN ‘25
Several players will join the USMNT fold for the first time in 2025. Alex Zendejas appeared in each of the first four matches during Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure last fall. The 27-year-old had 12 goals in 48 matches across all competitions for Club América last season.
The MLS duo of Roman Celentano and Sean Zawadzki took part in the 2024 January Camp with Zawadzki earning his first appearance on Jan. 20 against Slovenia. Tristan Blackmon gets his first crack since January of 2021.
Meantime, goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann gets another look for the senior MNT for the first time since 2018. Now with Cesena in Serie B in Italy, he won the Golden Glove during the 2017 U-20 Concacaf Gold Cup winning run and appeared in all five matches in the FIFA U-20 World Cup that same year.
CARPE DIEM
Four players are looking to seize the opportunity to earn their first cap for the senior National Team. While Blackmon, Celentano and Klinsmann are getting a return gig, 18-year-old defender Noahkai Banks makes his debut in a USMNT camp. A dual national of the United States and Germany, the FC Augsburg defender has appeared at the Youth National Team level for the U-17, U-19 and U-20 Men’s National Teams.
HONORING A HOMETOWN LEGEND
U.S. Soccer will celebrate the contributions of U.S. Men’s National Team legend Michael Bradley in a pregame ceremony at his now-hometown stadium. Bradley, who retired from professional soccer in 2023, compiled 151 international caps which stands as third most in USMNT history behind Cobi Jones and Landon Donovan. His 141 career starts (141) ranks second, one behind Donovan, and he’s tied for third all-time in appearances in World Cup Qualifying (40). He captained the U.S. team a total of 48 times.
A native of Princeton, N.J., the current head coach of the Red Bulls II was part of the USA squads at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, serving as a starting central midfielder in both tournaments. At the 2010 World Cup, Bradley scored the equalizer in group play against Slovenia, which brought the U.S. back from a 2-0 deficit. Overall, Bradleyplayed with the USMNT from 2006-2019 and recorded 17 international goals. In addition, his 23 career assists ranks second all-time only behind Landon Donovan. The 2007 U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year was a member of the 2008 U.S. Men’s Olympic Team.
As part of the initiative to acknowledge outstanding achievement throughout the Federation, U.S. Soccer is formally honoring senior Men’s and Women’s National Team players upon their retirement from professional soccer who earned at least 100 caps and appeared on the roster of two world championships, which includes World Cups and Olympic Games. This recognition is given to players retiring in 2019 and after.
LOOKING TO EVEN UP AGAINST KOREA REPUBLIC
The USMNT has a chance to pull even in the lifetime series against Korea Republic with the record currently sitting at 2W-3L-2D. The rivalry resumes after more than a decade with the last meeting against the Taegeuk Warriors coming Feb. 1, 2014, when two goals from Chris Wondolowski led to a 2-0 shutout in Carson, Calif. The most famous meeting came in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, when Korea as co-hosts had the entire nation behind them. Facing a sea of red-clad fans, a goal by Clint Mathis and a penalty kick save by Brad Friedel earned the United States a 1-1 draw and a critical point in the group phase.
South Korea currently sits in first place of Group 2 in Round 3 standings in Asian Football Confederation qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
RETURN TO RED BULLS
It will be nearly eight years to the day since the USMNT stepped on the field at the home of the New York Red Bulls. Playing at Sports Illustrated Stadium for the fifth time, the USA’s shining moment came in 2014 in the second Send-Off Match for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil – coincidentally against Turkey, the upcoming opponent for the United States on June 7 in East Hartford. On June 1, 2014, Fabian Johnson and Clint Dempsey provided the goals while the combined effort of former MetroStars ‘keeper Tim Howard and Brad Guzan led to a 2-0 shutout win.
USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams and forward Tim Weah are products of the Red Bull Academy, while defender Tim Ream began his professional career in a Red Bulls uniform.
THEY SAID IT
“The group is looking lovely right now, loving the vibes and loving the energy that we have. The quality in training has been amazing. Being back after not being with them in the summer is just an amazing feeling, and anytime I'm here, I try to keep that vibe.” Tim Weah
“People will say, ‘Oh, it’s a friendly.’ But with the amount of time between now and the World Cup, there’s no such thing as friendly games,” Ream said. “You have to be on it every single training session, every single game. The pressure is there on everybody to try to make the World Cup squad, and this is an opportunity for everybody who’s here to perform.” Tim Ream
“With Mauricio coming in, the objective was clear that he wanted to bring the group forward. As players, it’s no surprise for us to be competing for places and positions. I think it’s something we’ve done all our careers. Everyone wants to make an impression, and I think that’s just natural. A big competition is coming in 10 months; it’s important to leave your mark.” Folarin Balogun
Now, as players are embedded in camp in New Jersey ahead of matches against Korea Republic (Sept. 6) and Japan (Sept. 9), it’s up to them to make the most of it.
“It’s these opportunities we’ve been waiting for. I feel like it all depends on us, on how we were at our clubs to be able to get these opportunities and also make the most of it when we come into camp.” Alex Zendejas
ROSTER NOTES
- The roster will hold an average of 25 years, 233 days, as of matchday against Korea Republic. The squad also averages 21 caps.
- Twelve players return from the squad that earned a runner-up finish at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup.
- Thirteen players represent 11 different MLS clubs. Columbus Crew and Vancouver Whitecaps contribute a pair of players to the cause, followed by Charlotte FC, FC Cincinnati, Houston Dynamo, New York City FC, Orlando City, Philadelphia Union, Real Salt Lake, San Diego FC and Seattle Sounders
- Ten players are based outside of MLS: England (4), Italy (2), France (1) Germany (1), Mexico (1) and Netherlands (1).
- Forward Alejandro Zendejas earns his first camp call-up of 2025. The Club America attacker was last summoned in November 2024 and came off the bench in both Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal legs against Jamaica.
- Having begun their professional careers as members of the New York Red Bulls in midfielder Tyler Adams (2015-2019) and defender Tim Ream (2010 will return to Sports Illustrated Stadium on Sept. 6 against Korea Republic. Tim Weah also spent a year in the Red Bull Academy before beginning his European adventure at PSG.
- The Columbus Crew duo of Max Arfsten and Sean Zawadzki will have the chance to represent the USMNT in their home club stadium on Sept. 9 against Japan.
- Striker Josh Sargent has bagged four goals in as many matches across all competitions to start the new season for EFL Championship side Norwich City.
- Eighteen-year-old defender Noahkai Banks earns his first USMNT call-up
- Banks is one of four uncapped players on the roster with the other three having previously earned call-ups: defender Tristan Blackmon (last call-up in January 2022), and goalkeepers Roman Celentano (January 2024) and Jonathan Klinsmann (November 2018).
- With nine shutouts so far this year, goalkeeper Roman Celentano is tied for second in MLS. Matt Freese follows close behind with seven clean sheets for New York City FC.
- Seventeen players on this roster took part in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, with 12 coming through the MLS Academy ranks: Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls), Max Arfsten (Cal Odyssey), Sebastian Berhalter (Columbus Crew), Roman Celentano (Chicago Sockers), Luca de la Torre (Nomads, San Diego Surf), Alex Freeman (Weston FC, Orlando City), Matt Freese (Philadelphia Union), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union, Clearwater Chargers), Jonathan Klinsmann (Pateadores, Strikers FC), Diego Luna (San Jose Earthquakes, Barcelona Residency), Jack McGlynn (BW Gottschee, Philadelphia Union), Christian Pulisic (PA Classics), Chris Richards (FC Dallas), Josh Sargent (St. Louis Scott Gallagher), Tim Weah (BW Gottschee, New York Red Bulls), Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew), Alejandro Zendejas (FC Dallas).
