3 key questions about the USMNT’s 3-back formation after win over Japan | OneFootball

Following an ugly defeat against South Korea, the USMNT scored a much-needed win against Japan on Tuesday. Aside from more fight and spirit, Mauricio Pochettino's change to a 3-back formation was the biggest difference between the loss to South Korea and the win over Japan.

Given the success on Tuesday, is the USMNT going to stick with a 3-4-3 system moving forward? Should we expect the team to play with three center-backs during the 2026 World Cup? It would certainly make sense to stick with this formation in October when the U.S. plays Ecuador and Australia.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that a three-back formation is far from a sure thing. Here are three key questions about this formation that are worth asking before fans get too excited that Pochettino has found a clear path to success with the USMNT.

Who are the three center backs?

This would seem to be the most obvious question to ask. On paper, the USMNT has a considerable amount of depth at center back. But other than Chris Richards, it doesn’t seem like anyone is a safe bet to be in the starting lineup when the U.S. kicks off its World Cup campaign next summer. Playing with three center backs instead of two complicates that equation even more.

It’s particularly interesting how Tim Ream fits into a three-back formation. While he played well against Japan, the nearly 38-year-old may not have the foot speed to play on the far left side of a three-back setup.

He ended up in that exact position during the second half of the USMNT’s Copa America defeat to Panama last summer. His inability to defend in space contributed to Panama’s game-winning goal in that game. Despite being left-footed, Ream may need to play the middle position of a three-back lineup; otherwise, he may not fit the system.

Even if Richards and Ream both find a home in a three-back setup, the USMNT would still need to find a third center back from a group that includes Mark McKenzie, Miles Robinson, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, Tristan Blackmon, and others.

Including a defensive-minded full-back like Joe Scally could also be an option. The bottom line is that Pochettino would still need to test different combinations to find the right three center-backs for this formation.

What attacking player comes off the field?

If the U.S. is going to play three center-backs, it means playing with one less attacking player on the field. The formation change between the South Korea game and the Japan game essentially took Tim Weah off the field.

Granted, Weah picked up a minor injury against South Korea and was best kept sidelined anyway. But that is a sacrifice that the USMNT would need to make. In a three-back formation, the U.S. would field two attacking midfielders and a striker rather than three attacking midfielders and a striker.

The silver lining is that a 3-4-3 formation makes it easier to get Sergiño Dest and Antonee Robinson involved in the attack from their wing-back position. But there would still be one fewer attacking player on the field.

With Christian Pulisic being a lock for the starting lineup, there could only be room for one more player from a group that includes Weah, Malik Tillman, Diego Luna, Gio Reyna, and others. Choosing which of those players to feature and which to leave on the bench is not an easy decision for Pochettino.

What’s the center midfield combo?

The presence of three center-backs instead of two also changes the outlook when it comes to the USMNT’s contingent of center midfielders. The midfield construction is likely to be different in a 3-4-3 formation than it would be in a 4-2-3-1 formation. This means finding the best combination of central midfielders to sit in front of the back line while Dest and Robinson play on the wings.

It’s hard to imagine not having Tyler Adams starting during the World Cup if he’s healthy. But would his defensive work be needed with three center-backs behind him, especially in a game when the USMNT expects to be on the front foot?

In such a situation, the U.S. might need a midfield tandem in which both players are comfortable making forward runs and joining the attack. Other than Weston McKennie, is there another box-to-box midfielder who can play that role at a high level?

Depending on the opponent and the tactics for a specific match, Pochettino might have to alter the midfield tandem from one game to the next. That could mean sitting key players like Adams or McKennie in certain situations. Would Pochettino be willing to do that?

Pochettino also has a tendency to stick with a lineup that he likes and avoid making changes from one game to the next, which was the case during the Gold Cup this past summer. But with a 3-4-3 formation, midfield changes could be inevitable during a long tournament like the World Cup.

The Bottom Line

As encouraging as it was for the U.S. to find a formation that worked during the win against Japan, it’s far from settled that this will be the answer. Even if Pochettino sticks with the formation, there are still plenty of variables to figure out, and not many friendlies before the World Cup to figure out the answers to those questions.

Like any other formation, there will be trade-offs to playing with three center-backs. Therefore, it remains to be seen if this is indeed the formation that will give the USMNT the best chance of success at the 2026 World Cup.