South Korea beats USA 2-0 in New Jersey friendly

Son Heung-min played a pivotal role in South Korea's 2-0 victory over the United States in a pre-World Cup international friendly held at the New York Red Bulls' home stadium in New Jersey. Son scored the opening goal and assisted Lee Dong-gyeong's back-heel goal, helping South Korea dominate the first half and secure their win in front of a crowd largely supporting the visitors. The United States, coached by Mauricio Pochettino, who was Son's former manager at Tottenham Hotspur, struggled to find cohesion and suffered their fifth consecutive loss to a top-25 FIFA-ranked team. This defeat highlights ongoing challenges for the U.S. team as they prepare to co-host the 2026 World Cup, with further friendlies scheduled against Japan. South Korea, having qualified for their 11th straight World Cup, will next face Mexico, while the U.S. will play Japan. The match underscored Son's growing influence in Major League Soccer with LAFC and his proximity to breaking South Korea's international scoring record.