Heading into a pair of crucial World Cup qualifiers, the U.S. Men’s National Team will rely on a roster full of familiar faces.
Jurgen Klinsmann has called upon a 26-player roster for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers as the U.S. looks to clinch a spot in the Hexagonal round. The USMNT kicks off the final two matches of group play on Friday at St. Vincent & the Grenadines before hosting Trinidad & Tobago in Jacksonville for Group C’s final match. The USMNT can clinch a spot in the Hexagonal with two wins, while a win over St. Vincent & the Grenadines paired with a T&T win over Honduras could see the U.S. seal advancement as soon as Friday night.
In total, Klinsmann has selected 19 of the 23 players from the Copa America roster, and the numbers would have been higher if not for the absence of Clint Dempsey and Gyasi Zardes. Dempsey misses out as he continues to undergo treatment for an irregular heartbeat, while Zardes is sidelined after picking up an injury with the LA Galaxy in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Michael Bradley and Michael Orozco will both be suspended for the trip to St. Vincent & the Grenadines but will join up with the team ahead of the T&T clash.
While the roster is headlined by familiar faces like Jozy Altidore, Fabian Johnson and Brad Guzan, several younger options are also included, headlined by Christian Pulisic and Jordan Morris. In addition to the attacking duo, Kellyn Acosta, Paul Arriola, Caleb Stanko and Rubio Rubin headline the younger players included onthe roster.
Here’s a closer look at the USMNT roster:
GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Middlesbrough), Ethan Horvath (Molde FC), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids)
DEFENDERS: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), John Brooks (Hertha BSC), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle)
MIDFIELDERS: Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Caleb Stanko (FC Vaduz), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Rubio Rubin (FC Utrecht), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (Hamburg SV)
—
What do you think of the roster? Any notable exclusions? Which player stand out?
Share your thoughts below.