The exhibition match versus Japan on Tuesday isn’t truly about the ultimate tally. It’s concerning whether the U.S. men’s national squad can discover some certitude. The Americans arrive in Columbus mired in a slump, without a victory against superior competition this year and emerging from another mortifying defeat to South Korea.
For the coach, the undertaking isn’t to quiet detractors in September — it’s constructing a groundwork for June 2026, when the global tournament commences in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. That, he asserts, necessitates forbearance, explicitness and a stable influence. On Monday, he retorted at the escalating censure, disregarding it as “rubbish” and “disgraceful,” and exhorted an emphasis on enduring advancement over exhibition outcomes.
Japan furnishes precisely the sort of organized, global-tournament-standard assessment that can reveal weaknesses but also impart significant wisdom. Bookmakers at a prominent sports betting site perceive Japan as the preferred side at a certain odds, with the U.S. designated as underdogs at specified odds.
The coach’s precarious incumbency won’t be characterized by Tuesday’s result, but how his squad reacts to reversals will. Nonetheless, a triumph would greatly aid in bolstering confidence that he’s the appropriate individual to guide the Stars and Stripes into next summer’s competition.
The initial play is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at Lower.com Field in Columbus. Monitor along for real-time revisions beneath:
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 9
Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Lower.com Field | Columbus, Ohio
TV/Streaming: TNT and Telemundo; Streaming on Max, Universo and Peacock
