Columbus is called The Fortress for a reason.
On Tuesday night, the U.S. Men’s National Team returned to its spiritual home, the Ohio capital, where the Americans beat Japan by the trademark score line that’s become customary here for decades.
The 2-0 USMNT win against Japan at Lower.com Field was only an international friendly, but it was also a reminder of how important Columbus is to this nation’s soccer history. This is the home of La Guerra Fria, of Dos a Cero, of where superstar Christian Pulisic made his national team debut.
As the back of Columbus Crew jerseys read, this is “The Heart of American Soccer.” And it showed Tuesday.
The USMNT played with comfort and with purpose. There was a rhythm to the match that’s lacked in previous national team fixtures. And of course, there was the loud Columbus crowd cheering their national team players on.
“I want to say thank you to the fans of Columbus because they were fantastic,” USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino said after the win. “It is a joy to come here and I look forward to coming again one day.”
Columbus’ own Max Arfsten helped put the U.S. in front at the half-hour mark when he played a pinpoint cross from the left flank toward Alejandro Zendejas, who smashed a first-time volley in front of The Nordecke-turned-American Outlaws.
Then in the second half, the lead doubled in the 64th minute when Christian Pulisic played in Folarin Balogun, who had a tidy back-post finish that kissed the post before nestling in the net.
But the highlights didn’t end with the goals. (Also, it should be noted there probably should’ve been more American ones, but as fate would have it, the score line had to stay 2-0, just like it had to be 2-0 on Sept. 10, 2013, when Clint Dempsey missed a late penalty against Mexico at Historic Crew Stadium).
Two minutes after the Balogun goal, Arfsten was subbed off and received a standing ovation by the supporters who are used to watching him play club matches. As he walked off the pitch, he had a massive smile and received a huge hug from Pochettino.
“He is a player we have really believed in from day one,” Pochettino said of Arfsten. “I could see the way he is, his character, his personality. I think he’s a combo that we really love … he’s a very smart guy. I think his potential is massive. Today, he performed very well.”
The USMNT coach went as far as saying that Arfsten is very much an option to represent the nation at next year’s 2026 FIFA World Cup here on home soil. The wingback didn’t want to spend too much time fantasizing that possibility, instead opting to highlight how special Tuesday night was.
“It was super fun playing at Lower.com Field,” he said. “There was super good energy, and I’m happy we could get the win and end camp on a good note.”
And with that, Arfsten, who made his USMNT debut in January, already has 12 caps for the country – and now has three days before he rejoins the Columbus Crew at Atlanta United FC on Saturday night.
As for the U.S., the match was a stepping stone toward next year’s World Cup. Because the national team has already qualified, these international windows are critical for players to build chemistry while Pochettino implements new tactics and identities.
Consider Columbus the perfect place to test things out. Since 2000, the USMNT has played in the Ohio capital 15 times. Of those occasions, the country is unbeaten in all but one game.
As for the dos a cero, that’s been the score on six occasions, with the last arriving 13 years ago on Wednesday.
Columbus is the heart of American soccer, and on Tuesday night, the rest of the country had a reminder why.