Skip to content

Arena calls 27 players to training camp ahead of USMNT's World Cup qualifiers

Juan Carlos Ulate / Reuters

The United States men's national team is under pressure. While the ship was steadied in March, the Stars and Stripes can't afford to drop points following an abysmal start to The Hex in 2018 World Cup qualifying.

Tasked with cleaning up Jurgen Klinsmann's mess, Bruce Arena called up 27 players to training camp on Sunday, including those from the USMNT's veteran core. The squad is comprised of 15 footballers from Major League Soccer, nine from European clubs, and three from Liga MX.

The USMNT will host Venezuela in a friendly at Rio Tinto Stadium on June 3 in preparation for two crucial 2018 World Cup qualifiers. First up for the Stars and Stripes is a date with Trinidad and Tobago at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on June 8. The national team will subsequently cross the border, invade Estadio Azteca, and renew its rivalry with Mexico on June 11.

"I think we have a good group," Arena said. "I'm still in the early goings with this team and I haven't seen all of our players, so this camp gives me the opportunity to see six new faces we haven't had in with the team yet, which is valuable. It's also great that we're able to bring back 21 players that have been in with our program already in 2017. We have a roster that has good balance all over, we have good young players and hopefully it's a team we can put together to get us points in both games."

Players began reporting to training camp on Sunday.

Here's the USMNT's squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Atlanta United), Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge KV), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha BSC), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Omar Gonzalez (Club Pachuca), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Tim Ream (Fulham), Jorge Villafana (Club Santos Laguna), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente), 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: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Bobby Wood (Hamburger SV)

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox