By Mariana Smithfield

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.

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; 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.

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

COURTESY UNITED STATES MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM COMMUNICATIONS