US Men’s National Team head coach Gregg Berhalter announced a 25 player roster for their friendly match against Trinidad & Tobago on January 31. The team was selected from a group of 12 senior players and 26 U-23 players participating in the annual January camp.
“These last two weeks have been an absolute pleasure. The hard work and determination demonstrated by the entire group confirms that the player pool is headed in the right direction,” Berhalter said in a press release. “As we transition to Orlando, we switch gears and focus on competing as we prepare to face Trinidad and Tobago.”
16 of the players on the final roster are eligible for the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship, which will take place from March 18-30 in Guadalajara, Mexico. Including senior players, the average age of the squad is just over 23 years, with 20 players having 10 or less caps.
Nashville SC center-back Walker Zimmerman will have another chance to solidify his spot in the first-choice squad, and will likely partner New York Red Bulls’ Aaron Long at the heart of defense. The two are widely regarded to be in competition for a starting spot alongside Wolfsburg’s John Brooks, with players like Matt Miazga and Mark McKenzie also in the mix.
LAFC defender Tristan Blackmon had been in line for his first cap, but left the camp earlier this week with a concussion. Orlando City SC midfielder Andrés Perea is eligible to make his first appearance after filing a one-time switch from Colombia. The 20-year-old has 19 appearances for Colombia at the youth level, including starting all five of their matches in the U-20 World Cup in 2019.
The USMNT will take on Trinidad & Tobago on January 31 in Orlando. Coverage from Exploria Stadium for the USA’s first match of 2021 begins at 7 p.m. ET on FS1, UniMás and TUDN.
USMNT Rosters (Club; Caps/Goals):
Goalkeepers (3): Matt Freese (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), JT Marcinkowski (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0),Matt Turner (New England Revolution; 0/0)
Defenders (9): Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy; 1/0), George Bello (Atlanta United FC; 0/0), Kyle Duncan (New York Red Bulls; 1/0), Aaron Herrera (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 18/3), Mauricio Pineda (Chicago Fire FC; 0/0), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United FC; 2/0), Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids; 2/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 13/2)
Midfielders (7): Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 24/2), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 17/4), Benji Michel (Orlando City SC; 0/0), Andrés Perea (Orlando City SC; 0/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 19/0), Tanner Tessmann (FC Dallas; 0/0), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; 8/0)
Forwards (6): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 115/42), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 34/6), Daryl Dike (Orlando City SC; 0/0), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; 1/0), Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids; 6/0), Chris Mueller (Orlando City SC; 1/2)
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