Three days after their clash with Mexico, SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) will travel to Columbus to face the USA. With their domestic league, Major League Soccer (MLS), continuing to experience remarkable growth in recent years, and an increasing number of players gaining experience at European clubs, the standard of the USA National Team has steadily improved. The USA also have a long history of competing in the FIFA World Cup™, having reached the semi-finals in the inaugural tournament in 1930. One of their most iconic moments came in the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, when they stunned footballing giants England with a 1-0 victory – still remembered as one of the greatest upsets in the tournament’s history.

Japan and the USA have only met three times in men’s international fixtures. In contrast, Nadeshiko Japan (Japan Women’s National Team) have faced the USA Women’s National Team on 41 occasions, highlighting the rarity of this encounter. Most recently, the two men’s sides met in the Kirin Challenge Cup 2022, held in Dusseldorf, Germany, in September 2022, just prior to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Japan took the lead through KAMADA Daichi, and MITOMA Kaoru sealed the victory late on, securing a convincing 2-0 win – a match MAEDA Daizen later described as “the ideal kind of football we want to play at the World Cup.”

At the World Cup in Qatar, the USA, like Japan, progressed to the Round of 16. They drew 1-1 with Wales, held England to a 0-0 draw, and defeated Iran 1-0 in the group stage. However, their run ended with a 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands in the knockout stage.

Now preparing to host their second World Cup, following the 1994 edition, expectations are high for the USA National Team. However, results in 2025 have been mixed. They finished fourth in the CONCACAF Nations League in March, and in the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2025, held in June and July, they were beaten 2-1 by Mexico in the final, missing out on the regional crown. Nevertheless, their run to the Gold Cup final – achieved despite the absence of several key players – gave head coach Mauricio POCHETTINO reasons for optimism. The Argentinian coach, who took the helm last September, later remarked, “With one year until the World Cup, we’ve taken a lot of positives.”

Pochettino, who stated upon his appointment that he wanted to play “exciting and attacking football,” has players capable of realising that vision. Star forward Christian PULISIC (AC Milan/Italy) possesses exceptional technique, and with Timothy WEAH (Olympique de Marseille/France) on the opposite flank, the USA pose a serious threat down both wings. In defence, Qatar World Cup participant Tim REAM (Charlotte FC) and Chris RICHARDS (Crystal Palace/England), who was named in the Gold Cup Best XI, are expected to anchor the back line.

With the likely return of key players such as Pulisic and Weah, who missed the Gold Cup, the team will undoubtedly be strengthened. While it was disappointing to miss out on silverware in both of this year’s CONCACAF tournaments held on home soil, these upcoming friendlies against top-tier opposition present an ideal opportunity for the USA to sharpen their tactics and build momentum ahead of the main event.

Results of last 5 matches
*All matches were played in the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup in the USA
(○: Win, △: Draw, ●: Loss)

*Invited guest

Record against Japan

1 win 2 losses (4 goals, 7 against)

Results at the FIFA World Cup™

Appearances: 11

1930　Semi-finals
1934　1st Round
1938　Did not participate
1950　Group stage (1st Round)
1954　Eliminated in the qualifier
1958　Eliminated in the qualifier
1962　Eliminated in the qualifier
1966　Eliminated in the qualifier
1970　Eliminated in the qualifier
1974　Eliminated in the qualifier
1978　Eliminated in the qualifier
1982　Eliminated in the qualifier
1986　Eliminated in the qualifier
1990　Group stage
1994　Round of 16
1998　Group stage
2002　Quarterfinals
2006　Group stage
2010　Round of 16
2014　Round of 16
2018　Eliminated in the qualifier
2022　Round of 16

Data on the opposing country

◇FIFA Rankings (as of 3 April 2025): 16th
◇Record against Japan: 1 win 2 losses (4 goals, 7 against)

JFA OFFICIAL
TOP PARTNER

JFA OFFICIAL
SUPPLIER

JFA MAJOR PARTNER

JFA NATIONAL TEAM PARTNER