The US men’s national team is gearing up for the 2026 World Cup with friendlies against South Korea and Japan in September. The matches mark the beginning of the journey towards the highly anticipated event, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. The team will face South Korea at Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey and then travel to Ohio to take on Japan at Lower.com Field in Columbus.
These friendlies are part of four international windows leading up to the 2026 World Cup. The US has a history with both South Korea and Japan, with past memorable encounters in World Cup matches. South Korea, currently leading their group in AFC qualifiers, is on track to secure automatic qualification for the tournament. Coached by former LA Galaxy player Hong Myung-bo, the team includes star player Son Heung-min from Tottenham Hotspur.
On the other hand, Japan has already secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup, making history by becoming the first non-host nation to qualify. The Samurai Blue are on a 12-match unbeaten streak and have consistently performed well in recent World Cup editions.
The US will host Japan at Lower.com Field, a venue with significance as it has hosted previous World Cup qualifiers. These upcoming friendlies promise to be exciting matchups as the teams prepare for the ultimate goal of the 2026 World Cup.
