Story by
USMNT vs Japan: Crew's Sean Zawadzki out for international matchup at Lower.com Field
- Story by
- USMNT vs Japan: Crew's Sean Zawadzki out for international matchup at Lower.com Field
Crew defender Sean Zawadzki was among the 23 players selected for the United States men's national team's September camp but will be sidelined for the upcoming friendly at Lower.com Field due to a right knee injury.
Zawadzki suffered the injury during a national team training session prior to a friendly against South Korea on Sept. 6. The 25-year-old was subsequently left off the gameday roster and has been unable to return to training since.
Advertisement
"That was tough," Crew midfielder and USMNT defender Max Arfsten said. "He was deserving of the opportunity, and I think he was doing well, but things in football happen like this."
More Columbus Crew news: Columbus Crew's Max Arfsten, Sean Zawadzki called up to USMNT September camp
The call-up was Zawadzki's second of this year, though he has yet to play a game for the national team in 2025.
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi and Crew midfielder Sean Zawadzki (25) fight for a ball at Huntington Bank Field on April 19. The Crew lost 1-0.
Zawadzki was forced to withdraw from the June camp leading up to the CONCACAF Gold Cup because of a knee injury he suffered in MLS regular-season play.
It is unclear how long it will take Zawadzki to return and be available for the Crew following the end of the international window.
Advertisement
BLACK & GOLD: Sign up for our weekly Columbus Crew newsletter
United States men's national team vs Japan
With Zawadzki out of the lineup, the USMNT fell to South Korea 2-0.
LAFC forward Son Heung-Min , who joined MLS from the Premier League's Tottenham in August, scored the first goal during the 18th minute. Heung-Min was also credited with the assist on teammate Lee Dong-Gyeong's goal before halftime.
South Korea forward Son Heung-Min controls the ball against US Men's National Team forward Max Arfsten during a friendly on Sept. 6.
South Korean goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-Woo kept the USMNT off the board, recording five saves on the USMNT's 17 shot attempts, one of which was taken by Arfsten .
Arfsten made his tenth national-team start of 2025 against South Korea and will be the Crew's only representative during the United States next friendly, which is against Japan at Lower.com Field on Sept. 9.
Advertisement
Japan is one of the 18 teams who have already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is coming into the friendly against the United States off a scoreless draw with Mexico . The Japanese are ranked 17th in the FIFA rankings. The United States has lost five straight games to teams in the top 25 by a combined score of 11-1.
According to coach Mauricio Pochettino, the USMNT expects Japan's playing style to be similar to that of the South Koreans.
"We are talking about two high-level teams," Pochettino said.
Pochettino believes that will help prepare the U.S. for the World Cup.
"In a tactical way," he said, "we can try to learn how to damage this type of system and also, to control when they play in different ways."
Advertisement
The game against Japan will mark the United States first kickoff in Columbus since January 2022, and it starts at 7:30 p.m.
United States vs. Japan
When:7:30 p.m., Sept. 9 Where:Lower.com Field Watch:TNT, HBO Max, Peacock
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Sean Zawadzki to miss USMNT vs Japan game in Columbus
