There were plenty of winners from the U.S. men’s national team’s 2025 year but maybe not one bigger than Max Arfsten.

Arfsten made his USMNT debut in January 2025 and proceeded to earn 16 caps under Mauricio Pochettino. The Columbus Crew left back led the squad with five assists, helping the Americans rattle off victories over Uruguay, Paraguay, Australia, Japan, among others.

As he continues to prepare for the 2026 MLS season, Arfsten reflected on his growth with the USMNT and where he improved most.

“It was a big year for me individually,” Arfsten said in an interview with SBI. “I got my first call up in January and kept trying to plug away and continue to get called up to the camps. We had a really good Gold Cup, making it to the final. I think it was a year of growth for the team collectively too as we kept getting results as the year went on.

“One thing I learned the most was just being exposed to different environments and being taken out of my comfort zone,” Arfsten added. “It was a new experience for me. I feel like I grew mentally by playing with new players, working with new coaches, and just becoming more well-rounded as a player.”

Arfsten was one of several players who thrived under Pochettino, taking his opportunities to the fullest under the Argentine head coach. With Antonee Robinson missing ample time through injury, Arfsten was called on continuously by Pochettino, finishing the year with the second-most USMNT appearances (Diego Luna, 17) in the squad.

The 24-year-old credited Pochettino’s belief in him, admitting that the longtime head coach is a big believer of players embracing their own styles of play.

“He’s been really good,” Arfsten said about Pochettino. “He’s very instrumental in our team growing and in myself growing as well. He is a very personable, down-to-earth guy, who wants to get to know the players on the individual level, not just addressing the team as a whole. He’s always mentioned for me to continue working on myself and playing my specific game, not straying away from my style. It’s a good feeling to have knowing that the coach supports your style of play and what makes you, you.”

Arfsten will have a new head coach in Columbus this season as the Crew are 18 days away from beginning their 2026 campaign. Wilfried Nancy’s departure to Celtic led to the Crew eventually hiring Swedish head coach Henrik Rydstrom to the open vacancy, bring the 49-year-old away from his native country.

Rydstrom is entering his eighth year as a head coach after previously serving as manager of IK Sirius, Kalmar, and Malmo. He led Malmo to a domestic double during the 2023-24 campaign, before also winning the Allsvenskan title a second time in 24′.

Although it will be Rydstrom’s first spell in MLS this year, Arfsten and the Crew have embraced the new opportunity with a new coach.

“It’s been good so far,” Arfsten said about Crew preseason camp. “I think Henrik has been very good so far. He’s been doing his homework on the players that we have and how they like to play and also keeping that in mind when implementing his system. It’s definitely a transitional period, but I feel like everyone’s embracing it and just trying to be ready for our first match.”

In addition to his busy preseason schedule, Arfsten is also gearing up for Sunday’s NFL Super Bowl matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Arfsten has been named The Hype Coach on P&G’s inaugural Super Bowl Sunday roster, teaming up with New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, ESPN personality Mina Kimes, and others ahead of the big game.

A San Francisco 49ers fan, Arfsten gave his prediction for Sunday’s matchup, while also voicing his excitement in working with P&G, Gillette, and Old Spice.

“It’s just been fun,” Arfsten said when asked about being named with other athletes and celebrities for P&G’s inaugural Super Bowl roster. “I had a lot of fun with the video and I think we got a good roster. I like our squad and to have people from all different types of professions who are excelling is exciting. I think it’s going to be a good recipe for the Super Bowl.

“It’s a tough one because both teams are good,” Arfsten said about the Seahawks-Patriots matchup. “It’s hard to predict, but I got the Seahawks winning this game. I think their defense is really good. They’ve been playing good all year. They’ve beaten a lot of good teams.”

Arfsten will have over one month of MLS under his belt this winter before the USMNT’s March camp takes place. European giants Portugal and Belgium await the Americans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in late-March, with both teams providing great tests for Pochettino and his players ahead of the World Cup.

Arfsten believes the March window is exactly what the USMNT needs to prepare for this summer, especially given the amount of talent that both Belgium and Portugal have in their squads.

“I feel like it’s the perfect scenario because you want to go into such a big tournament, the World Cup with having faced top opponents,” Arfsten said. “I think it is going to be a challenge, but it’s also what is necessary in order for the squad to be ready to go.”