HARRISON, N.J. (AP) \u2014 The United States is consistent as it prepares to host next year’s World Cup: The Americans keep losing to top 25 teams and home games feel like road matches as fans cheer opponents.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoing up to the World Cup we need to build confidence within ourselves and give the fans confidence, so it\u2019s disappointing to lose the game, for sure,\u201d forward Folarin Balogun said after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to South Korea<\/a> in a friendly.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n With a crowd of 26,500 cheering on the Taegeuk Warriors, Son Heung-min scored in the 18th minute and set up Lee Dong-gyeong\u2019s goal in the 43rd. The 15th-ranked Americans are winless in their last seven games against top 25 teams and have been outscored 17-3, including 11-1 in five straight losses.<\/p>\n Coach Mauricio Pochettino’s ever-positive outlook was essentially: What, me worry?<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to start to win when the World Cup starts,\u201d he said. \u201cToo many examples that teams \u2014 they win during five years and then arrive to the World Cup and then they don\u2019t arrive in the best condition. I was involved in 2002 with Argentina, we were beating (teams) during five years and then we arrived to the the World Cup and we were out in the group stage.\u201d<\/p>\n Pochettino pointed out that the U.S. outplayed South Korea for much of the game and had a 2.23 expected goals from 17 shots while the visitors had 0.74 from five.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n No. 23 South Korea, which has qualified for its 11th straight World Cup, went ahead when Lee Jae-sung fed a through ball as Son broke past defender Tristan Blackmon and beat goalkeeper Matt Freese to the far post.<\/p>\n South Korea doubled the lead when Son ran onto Lee Jae-sung\u2019s flick and tumbled over Freese. The ball rolled to Lee Dong-gyeong, who put the ball into the empty net with a backheel.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were so passive and providing the space to score,\u201d Pochettino said. \u201cWe showed a little bit lack of communication, but that is normal.\u201d<\/p>\n Just half the current roster was at the Gold Cup and several regulars weren’t asked in for the match against South Korea or Tuesday’s game against 17th-ranked Japan in Columbus, Ohio. Blackmon started in his international debut at age 29.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Pochettino said the Americans can’t be judged \u201clike we are a very consolidated or stable team with a roster that they are playing for four years together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think we feel pressure to win. Obviously we want to win, but they\u2019re friendlies, so this is the time that we can learn,\u201d said right back Sergi\u00f1o Dest<\/a>, who made his first appearance since March 2024 after recovering from a torn right ACL. \u201cWe need to be sharp at all times, because even though you play a pretty decent game, if you\u2019re not sharp for one second, you can get the goal against.\u201d<\/p>\n