The 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup may not kick off until July 7th, but the 40-man preliminary roster was announced on Saturday evening for the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Bruce Arena’s side kicks off their Gold Cup schedule a day later, facing off with Panama. Martinique and Nicaragua also round out the U.S.’s group for the upcoming competition.
The roster included most of the USMNT’s top MLS-based players, with European-based standouts being given the tournament off. The notable exception on the preliminary roster is Christian Pulisic
Among the surprises on the squad are FC Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez, KAA Gent midfielder and Israeli-American Kenny Saief, NYCFC midfielder Tommy McNamara and Sporting KC forward Dom Dwyer, a newly-minted U.S. citizen.
The U.S. will begin training camp on June 25, with a friendly against Ghana scheduled for July 1 in East Hartford, Connecticut. The Americans open the Gold Cup on July 8 against Panama.
Here is the full 40-man preliminary roster:
GOALKEEPERS: Joe Bendik (Orlando City SC), Jesse Gonzalez (FC Dallas), Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids), Sean Johnson (New York City FC)
DEFENDERS: Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Greg Garza (Atlanta United FC), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Matt Miazga (Chelsea/ENG), Justin Morrow (Toronto FC/CAN), Matt Polster (Chicago Fire), Jonathan Spector (Orlando City SC), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna/MEX), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
MIDFIELDERS: Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana/MEX), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana/MEX), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire), Tommy McNamara (New York City FC), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Chris Pontius (Philadelphia Union), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund/GER), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC), Kelyn Rowe (New England Revolution), Kenny Saief (Gent/BEL), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
FORWARDS: Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Dom Dwyer (Sporting Kansas City), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), C.J. Sapong (Philadelphia Union), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
Why Beasley, Wondo, Besler & Zusi!?! Those guys are done!
Chandler as DM? Why not Williams?
No Walker Zimmerman. Or is he still expected to be out with injury?
4-6 weeks starting this week, so if back not in form by GC.
I am more surprised by the Pulisic inclusion than I am the exclusion of Williams, CCV, Hovarth, etc. Williams will most likely be moving on, would not be shocked to see one of the promoted teams take a run at him, or a Bundesliga club. He will need time to get acclimated to his new team. CCV will either get more 1st team minutes or go on loan, he needs the time with whatever happens. But he does need to get cap tied. Hovarth is going into his first year as a starter on a very good team and needs to play this spring. My surprise at the inclusion of Gonzalez is this he is likely to move on this summer to Europe or Mexico. I bet he comes into camp to see how goes it, and then make the decision to file his one time switch or not. I doubt he plays in the Gold Cup.
My thought on CP was that since there is no coach in Dortmund right now they put him on the list just in case he was available. CPs situation could go many different ways at this point and he might want to showcase his talents for potential transfer suitors, same with Miazga
Jesse Gonzalez?? Thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. Wonder why the change of heart?
Kenny Saief, an Attacking Midfielder (his style reminds me of Federico Higuaín) and another Dynamic player that has played for the Israel National team. I wonder how he will fit in with the USMNT or How he will perform against top opposition.
How did they even get him…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OStKbykq1Q
….or find him???
There’s been rumors about him for awhile. He was called in by Israel for a qualifier in March, but had an injury so he couldn’t go. At the time Saief’s people were making it known he still had interest in US just hadn’t been contacted. There were a number of articles about him around those March qualifiers sounds like its purely related to having a chance to play in a World Cup that he wants to play for the US.
Holden said on the broadcast that USSF has already filed Saief’s one-time switch paperwork, so this looks to be a done deal.
This is a weird one as he’s been clamoring for a USMNT look for awhile now. I get the sense the Israel call-ups were only accepted for leverage.
Tim Parker. Was amazin in the U20 WC and plays solidly for Whitecaps. Wins everything n the air. Cuts out ball after ball on the back line. He is solid.
Christian Ramirez. That is one guy I wanted to see!
If you notice there are very few European based players because they will be starting pre season or will be on their final few days of break. Williams season ran long with the promotion playoffs and they will be looking to prepare for their return to the EPL so he is probably unavailable. CCV likewise will be looking to secure more playing time at Spurs or on loan.
Whether Pulisic plays will likely be determined by the new manager whomever that will be.
Reading isn’t going to the prem…
Guess Bruce doesn’t rate Williams for whatever reason …. some young guys fighting for spots with teams were left out (Horvath) but really no reason to not have Williams when you have Lichaj in pretty much the same situation… Maybe Williams didn’t want to come
Good point, I forgot they lost guess I shouldn’t post so late.
Would have been nice to see carter-vickers, and hyndman although I know he’s injured. I also wish we would have selected a few more young european based players for this squad, versus the wondos and agudelos in MLB.
Why no CCV? Let’s get him capped.
CCV is coming off a summer tournament and injury at the of last season. He could use a break heading into an important Spurs preseason.
I really feel bad for Danny Williams. I don’t know what else he can do to at least get a look
I read on another site his contract is up, so he probably wouldn’t have wanted to participate anyway.