Preview:USA vs South Korea - prediction, team news, lineups

For the first time in over a decade, the USA and South Korea will square off on the international stage, with their upcoming friendly taking place at Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey on Saturday.

Both sides were denied a trophy in the summer, with the Yanks losing 2-1 to Mexico in the Gold Cup final, while the Koreans were beaten 1-0 by Japan in the East Asian Cup final.

Match preview

We are just over nine months away from the start of the 2026 World Cup, and Mauricio Pochettino is still trying to find his ideal squad that can compete in the finals.

For this international window, the former Tottenham Hotspur manager has opted for a more experienced squad, with just four uncapped players selected, two of whom are goalkeepers.

After losing four consecutive competitive fixtures at home before the Gold Cup, this team have emerged victorious in five of their previous six matches played on American soil.

Since their 1-1 draw with Wales at the 2022 World Cup, the United States have won all 16 of their international affairs in which they were ahead after 45 minutes.

They are unbeaten in their last five meetings against Asian opposition, having conceded no goals over that stretch, and those last four ending in a victory.

It has been just over eight years since the US last played a match in New Jersey, losing 2-0 to Costa Rica in a 2017 World Cup qualifier, when Sports Illustrated Stadium was known as Red Bull Arena.

With their place at the next World Cup already booked, Hong Myung-Bo has the luxury of giving some unknown players a look over the next few months.

A dozen players called up for this international window have fewer than 10 caps to their name, two of whom have yet to feature for the senior squad.

Their defeat against arch-rivals Japan in the East Asian Cup final ended a 16-match unbeaten run for them across all competitions dating back to March 2024.

The Koreans have been one of the toughest defensive units in Asia to break down, with their defeat to Japan in July being the only time they have allowed a goal in their last five games.

Heading into this friendly, they are undefeated in their previous eight matches played as the visiting team, with those last two being shutout triumphs.

South Korea have lost two of their last three matches versus the Yanks, beating them only once on American soil in an August 1989 Marlboro Cup clash (2-1).

USA International Friendlies form:

USA form (all competitions):

South Korea International Friendlies form:

South Korea form (all competitions):

Team News

Sergino Dest got his first US call-up since his ACL injury in April 2024, Folarin Balogun has returned after missing a significant amount of time with a shoulder issue last season, while Christian Pulisic is also back in the squad after being rested at the Gold Cup.

There is a unique New York/New Jersey connection in the US team for this window, with Tyler Adams and Timothy Weah both training at the New York Red Bulls Academy, while Tim Ream was drafted by the club in 2010.

At this summer’s Gold Cup, Diego Luna led the Yanks with three goals, while Josh Sargent is off to a great start to the new season, with the Norwich City striker leading the Championship with five goals.

On the South Korean side, Jens Castrop is the only player without an appearance for the senior squad, while five players have just one cap, including Jeong Sang-bin, who plays his club football in MLS at St Louis City.

Lee Jae-sung is just two appearances away from the century mark, while Kim Min-jae is one short of 70 and Oh Hyeon-gyu can reach 20 on Saturday.

Captain Son Heung-min, who now plays in the US for Los Angeles FC, had three goals for them in the second round of qualifying, with Hyeon-gyu and Jae-sung netting four.

USA possible starting lineup:

Freese; Dest, Richards, Ream, Arfsten; Adams, McGlynn; Zendejas, Pulisic, Weah; Sargent

South Korea possible starting lineup:

Seung-gyu; Young-woo, Min-jae, Jun-soo, Myung-jae; Yong-woo, Min-woo; Kang-in, Jun-ho; Heung-min, Hyeon-gyu

We say: USA 2-2 South Korea

Both sides boast their share of attacking quality, so we expect to see a spirited affair with many players keen to make a strong impression before it is too late.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.