Central defender Steven Birnbaum has been named to the final roster for the U.S. Men's National Team for the upcoming World Cup Qualifying matches on March 25 and March 29 against Guatemala.
United forward Alvaro Saborío has been named to Costa Rica's roster for their upcoming World Cup Qualifying matches against Jamaica on March 25th and March 29th. The 33-year-old has scored over 30 goals for the national team since his debut in 2002, making more than 100 appearances for los Ticos.
Birnbaum, 25, was recently called up to U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann's annual January camp in California where he scored his first international goal, a game-winning header against Iceland on Jan. 31. The 2014 Rookie of the Year finalist made 21 appearances for the Black-and-Red in his first season and 22 in 2015, where he scored 2 goals.
The third-year defender will join the U.S. for the March 25 game in Guatemala City, Guatemala, and the March 29 game in Columbus, Ohio. Both Saborío and Birnbaum will miss United's MLS match against FC Dallas on Saturday, March 26 at RFK Stadium.
Birnbaum is one of eight players named to the roster who have yet to make a World Cup Qualifier appearance, while the 18 others have been capped in previous qualifiers. Seven players have appeared in two or more FIFA World Cup Qualifying cycles.
The USMNT are 15-4-6 all-time against Guatemala and currently hold a 21-match unbeaten streak against los Chapines, the longest current run against any international opponent.
Full USMNT Roster (Club; WCQ Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (4): David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa; 9/0), Tim Howard (Everton FC; 30/0), William Yarbrough (Club Leon; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (9): Ventura Alvarado (Club America; 0/0), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City; 8/0), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United; 0/0), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin; 0/0), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City; 15/1), Edgar Castillo (Monterrey; 4/0), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca; 8/0), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana; 4/1), DeAndre Yedlin (Sunderland; 0/0)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake; 6/0), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes FC; 3/0), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC; 26/5), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC; 3/0), Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew SC; 0/0), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach; 11/1), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers FC; 2/0), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution; 0/0)
FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC; 28/12), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC; 34/13), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Bobby Wood (Union Berlin; 2/1), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy; 2/1)
Full Costa Rican Roster
