Where to watch: TV, streaming, and radio
If you wanted the USA vs South Korea international friendly on September 6, 2025, you had real choice. The match kicked at 5:00 p.m. ET from a sold‑out Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, with 26,500 in the house and wall‑to‑wall coverage across TV, streaming, and radio.
TNT carried the domestic English TV broadcast as the primary network. For cord‑cutters, Max (formerly HBO Max) streamed the game, and Peacock offered a streaming option as well. Spanish‑language TV viewers could tune in on Universo, with a matching live stream on Peacock. Fans who prefer radio had two solid options: Westwood One Sports in English and Fútbol de Primera in Spanish.
Quick breakdown of options at kickoff time:
- TV (English): TNT
- TV (Spanish): Universo
- Streaming: Max and Peacock
- Radio (English): Westwood One Sports
- Radio (Spanish): Fútbol de Primera
Westwood One’s presence was notable. This was the first time the national radio giant provided on‑site coverage for a USMNT match, a sign that audio coverage is stepping up in the run‑up to 2026. Fútbol de Primera remained the steady Spanish‑language partner it has been for years, with affiliates around the country.
Most major streaming devices handled the game without fuss—Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and game consoles—plus the usual iOS and Android apps. Streams typically run with a slight delay compared to cable or satellite, so if you had both on at home, you probably noticed a 30–60 second gap. Closed captions were available on TV and streaming. Spanish audio was baked into Universo’s broadcast and offered through Peacock’s Spanish stream.
For fans outside the U.S., rights vary by region, and local partners change by window. Some viewers abroad caught it through regional sports networks tied to each federation’s distribution deals. If you were traveling, the simplest route was checking local listings in your location rather than trying to mirror U.S. channels.
The broadcast itself leaned into the stakes of the international window. Even if it’s a friendly, you saw the usual studio segments—lineups, tactical setup, and what the staff wanted from the first 60 minutes—plus a halftime breakdown centered on rhythm, defensive shape, and whether the U.S. got its wingers running at Korea’s back line.
If you listened on radio, the experience was busy and descriptive by design. Soccer on radio lives on tempo and picture‑painting: where the press starts, who’s dropping between the center backs, and how quick the fullbacks join. Westwood One’s debut on the touchline made a difference here, bringing field‑level hits you don’t always get from remote booths.
Why this friendly mattered—and what’s next
The result will stick: South Korea won 2–0. For the Americans, this wasn’t just a calendar filler. It was the first match of the September international window, a tune‑up before Japan on September 9 in Columbus, Ohio, and another data point before 2026. Friendlies are where the staff tests partnerships—center‑back chemistry, the No. 6’s range, and how the front three combine in transition. You don’t win tournaments in September, but you do sort out who can handle fast, organized opponents.
South Korea used the stage well. Their midfield pressure forced turnovers. Their spacing limited vertical balls into the U.S. striker, which stalled the hosts’ rhythm. When the U.S. did break lines, Korea’s recovery speed closed gaps fast. That, plus clean finishing, decided the night.
From the American side, nights like this shape the depth chart. The staff watches how players handle tempo, whether they break lines under pressure, and if they recover after mistakes. If you saw earlier subs than usual, that’s why—friendlies are for minutes and match fitness as much as they’re for the scoreboard.
Broadcast‑wise, having TNT on TV and two streaming paths (Max and Peacock) reflects how U.S. Soccer’s rights look in this era. Warner Bros. Discovery holds English‑language rights for USMNT and USWNT friendlies in this cycle, with Telemundo/Universo holding Spanish‑language TV and Peacock supporting the Spanish stream. The overlap on streaming is unusual in other sports but familiar here: different language rights, different platforms, wider reach. Add national radio in both English and Spanish, and you’ve got a full menu, whether you watch at home, in a bar, or on the go.
Atmosphere mattered, too. A sellout in Harrison gave it a big‑game feel—drums, flags, and a proper visiting section. Families showed up early; traveling supporters brought the noise. If you watched on TV, you could hear it every time the U.S. crossed midfield. If you streamed, the crowd mics rang cleanly, even through the compression.
Next up is Japan in Columbus on September 9. Expect rotation—managing legs across two games in four days is standard. You’ll likely see tweaks in midfield roles and a fresh look on the wings. Broadcasters will lean into that storyline, because this window isn’t about one result; it’s about building habits and sorting roles before the heavy calendar hits in 2026.
If you missed this one and want the full picture, replays and condensed highlights usually follow within hours on the same platforms that aired it live. Spanish‑language wrap‑ups often hit Peacock quickly; English packages land on the streaming side as rights allow. Radio postgame shows tend to run longer than TV, which can be handy if you’re driving home and want the analysis without staring at a screen.
One last note for fans planning their setup for the next match: test your stream a few minutes before kickoff. Sign‑in hiccups, app updates, or device restarts can eat up those precious opening minutes. And if you’re pairing radio with TV—lots of people do—expect a little drift between the two feeds. It’s normal, and it’s worth it if you like the rhythm of radio calls over pictures.