CHICAGO — The U.S. national team has a mixture of veterans and young talent on its CONCACAF Gold Cup roster.
U.S. head coach Bruce Arena Sunday announced the 23-player roster for the tournament, which runs from July 7-26.
The Americans will seek their sixth Gold Cup title. With less than a year out from the 2018 FIFA World Cup, this competition provides a huge platform for players to demonstrate they should be included if the U.S. qualifies.
“It’s a good roster with a nice blend of experienced, veteran players and a good group of newcomers as well,” Arena said in a statement. “There’s good balance at every position. We can play a number of ways, and I think all these players have a desire to play for the U.S. and will be working hard. It will be a competitive camp. They are going to be highly motivated, very coachable and they have an opportunity to make a statement.”
Players begin reporting to Nashville, Tenn. Monday.
Historically, outstanding individual performances by relative newcomers in the Gold Cup have led to a player’s inclusion on the upcoming World Cup roster. Players like DaMarcus Beasley and Pablo Mastroeni (2002), Jimmy Conrad, Clint Dempsey and Oguchi Onyewu (2005), Stuart Holden and Clarence Goodson (2009), Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez (2013), have parlayed this opportunity into playing on soccer’s biggest stage.
New York City FC goalkeeper Sean Johnson was the lone local player selected, although three former Red Bulls were tapped — defender Matt Miazga (Chelsea), midfielder Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire) and forward Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution).
NYCFC midfielder-forward Tommy McNamara, who was named to the U.S.’s provisional roster, was nnot named Sunday, but is eligible to become a replacement player in the knockout round of the tournament.
No current Red Bulls were named to the provisional roster.
As per tournament rules, the final roster must be submitted no later than June 27 (Tuesday). A player may be replaced up to 24 hours prior a team’s first match of the group phase in the case of injury. Six changes may be made in the 24 hours after the end of the group phase ahead of the knockout round. The replacement players must come from the 40-man preliminary roster.
The U.S. roster (club; caps/goals)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC; 54/0), Bill Hamid (D.C. United; 2/0), Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 5/0)
DEFENDERS (8): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City; 39/1), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX; 39/1), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas; 2/0), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest/ENG; 11/0), Matt Miazga (Chelsea/ENG; 2/0), Justin Morrow (Toronto FC/CAN; 1/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna, MEX; 6/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City; 47/5)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; 8/0), Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana/MEX; 5/2), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union; 60/2), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana/MEX; 17/2), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire; 6/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 0/0), Kelyn Rowe (New England Revolution; 0/0), Kenny Saief (Gent/BEL; 0/0), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy; 31/7)
FORWARDS (3): Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution; 23/3), Dom Dwyer (Sporting Kansas City; 0/0), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 15/2)
