The United States men’s national team suffered a fresh setback in its preparations for next year’s World Cup, slinking to a 2-0 defeat to a Son Heung-Min-inspired South Korea in a friendly in Harrison, New Jersey, on Saturday.
Despite the return of Christian Pulisic, Timothy Weah and Sergiño Dest, Mauricio Pochettino’s side went down to first-half goals from new LAFC signing Son and Lee Dong-Gyeong.
The U.S. has now suffered back-to-back losses for the second time under Pochettino, and second time this year, after a four-game losing streak ahead of this summer’s Gold Cup.
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While there were signs of progress as the USMNT reached the final of the Gold Cup, despite being without several of its top players, Saturday’s loss will again invite questions about the team’s readiness for the 2026 World Cup, just over nine months ahead of its opening game in Los Angeles.
Pochettino handed a debut to defender Tristan Blackmon while there was a seventh cap for his Vancouver Whitecaps club mate Sebastian Berhalter in midfield. But the U.S. defense was cut apart with ease by South Korea in the opening period.
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Son, who completed an MLS-record transfer from Tottenham to LAFC last month, made the most of the space. The South Korea captain ran unchecked onto a through ball from Lee Jae-Sung to open the scoring in the 18th minute at the home of the New York Red Bulls. It was Son’s 52nd international goal, putting him six shy of tying Cha Bum-Kun for the most in South Korea history.
It was more of the same as South Korea doubled its lead shortly before halftime. A well-worked one-two got Son behind the backline before he shifted the ball to his side as he was brought to the ground by the out-rushing goalkeeper Matt Freese. It might well have been a penalty had Lee not be on hand to cleverly backheel the ball into the unguarded net.
There was more bad news for the U.S. in the second half when Weah went off with an injury.
Pochettino made a number of changes in the second half, including handing Folarin Balogun a first appearance in a year as a replacement for ineffective Josh Sargent up front.
And while the new faces brought some fresh impetus, with Balogun going closest to getting on the scoresheet in stoppage time, the World Cup host couldn’t break down a South Korea side that has already secured its place in next year’s tournament.
The U.S. will next face Japan in a friendly in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday.
