U.S. national team roster announced for upcoming World Cup qualifiers
On Sunday, U.S. men's national soccer team coach Bruce Arena named his 27-man roster for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Trinidad & Tobago and Mexico.
Arena's roster is a predictable mix heavy on seasoned veterans with some youngsters sprinkled in.
The U.S. plays Trinidad & Tobago on June 8 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park (home of the Colorado Rapids) in Commerce, Colo. Then, on June 11, the U.S. faces Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where the U.S. has only won game in 50 years and that came in a friendly. The qualifier against Mexico was moved up three days due to Mexico's participation in the Confederations Cup in Russia, which starts on June 17 (Mexico's first game is against reigning European champion Portugal).
With a 1-2-1 record (which includes a 2-1 loss to Mexico in the U.S. in November), the U.S. is one point out of CONCACAF's three automatic berths in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Regular national teamers such as Fabian Johnson and DeAndre Yedlin are back in the squad after missing the World Cup qualifiers against Hoduras and Panama in March due to injuries. Also returning is Bobby Wood.
Players who were on the roster in March, but not for the June qualifiers include Chris Wondowlowski, Jermaine Jones (who is injured), Sacha Kljestan, Sebastian Lleget (who is injured), Michael Orozco, Walker Zimmerman and David Bingham.
Clint Dempsey enters this round of World Cup qualifiers just one goal behind Landon Donovan's record of 57 scored for the U.S. men's national team.
The USMNT will play a friendly against Venezuela on June 3 at Rio Tinto Stadium (home of Real Salt Lake) in Sandy, Utah.
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Complete roster:
GOALKEEPERS (4): Brad Guzan (Atlanta United), Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (11): DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Tim Ream (Fulham), Jorge Villafana (Santos Laguna), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund)
FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Bobby Wood (Hamburger SV)
PHOTOS: USMNT all-time leading goal scorers
