The U.S. men’s national team’s disappointing 2025 continued on Saturday with the program suffering its sixth loss of the calendar year.

Mauricio Pochettino’s squad suffered a 2-0 home loss to South Korea at Sports Illustrated Stadium, continuing a worrying run of form under the Argentine manager. Despite improving in the second half offensively, the Americans were playing catch up from the 18th minute onward after first-half goals from Son Heung-Min and Dong-Gyeong Lee.

Pochettino knows the results haven’t come as consistently as he would’ve hoped as USMNT manager, but believes they will come soon with improved performances.

“Overall, I think we were better than South Korea, but then if you are not clinical in your own area, and in the opposite box, it’s difficult,” Pochettino said in his postgame press conference. “Because we create more chances, we have the feeling that we control the game.”

“I think we were better,” he added. “Disappointed, of course, because I am very disappointed about the result, but I think overall in the performance…it’s a massive improvement. I told the players, I think the results will arrive soon, for sure.”

The USMNT welcomed back several key starters on Saturday including Christian Pulisic, Chris Richards, and Sergino Dest. However, even their returns didn’t lead to a victory in Harrison, New Jersey, as South Korea looked comfortable from the opening whistle in a World Cup preparation match for both countries.

Both Richards and fellow substitution Folarin Balogun came closest to finding the back of the net in the second half, but South Korean goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-Woo played his part valiantly in the visitors’ performance.

Even with several other key stars not selected for this international window, Pochettino credited his team for working together in their latest opportunity as a collective unit.

“I am so pleased, if I put the result [aside], I am so pleased in the way that we are evolving from the Gold Cup,” Pochettino said. “Today with different players, different roster than the Gold Cup.”

The USMNT are now down to nine months until the bright lights of the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins. 2025 will conclude with matches against Japan, Ecuador, Australia, Uruguay, and Paraguay before only two international windows remain in 2026 ahead of the group stage of the historic tournament.

Although pressure is growing on Pochettino and his players to find their groove, the 53-year-old admitted the fans and players need to be together for success to happen.

“We need to start to win when the World Cup starts,” Pochettino said. “They [the USMNT players] need to believe, the message [to the fans] is they need to believe. The important thing is at the start of the World Cup we need to have everyone who is going to be on the roster in their best condition.”

The USMNT next faces Japan at Lower.com Field in Ohio on Tuesday.