D.C. United Homegrown Kevin Paredes Selected for Upcoming U.S. Men's National Team Camp and Friendly

U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Gregg Berhalter has called 26 players including D.C. United Homegrown Kevin Paredes to BioSteel training camp in Carson, Calif., ahead of USA-Bosnia and Herzegovina on Dec. 18 at Dignity Health Sports Park. Players will begin reporting to camp this Sunday.

D.C. United Homegrown wingback Kevin Paredes is coming off a breakout season for the Black-and-Red. The 18-year-old scored three goals and recorded an assist in 24 appearances (19 starts) and was instrumental in the D.C. United offense that scored 56 goals in 2021; tied for the third most goals by a club in 2021. Paredes earned MLS Team of the Week selections on three occasions in 2021 and was named at number 11 in the MLS 22 Under 22 list in October.

Kickoff for the USA’s final match of 2021 is set for 8:15 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast on FS1, UniMás and TUDN). Fans will be able to follow via Twitter @USMNT, Instagram @USMNT, Facebook, and the official U.S. Soccer App.

With an eye towards the World Cup Qualifiers next month and MLS-based players now in the off-season, the almost-exclusively domestic-based roster comprises core national team players as well as younger players who have earned opportunities.

“It’s been a great year for the group and our objective is to finish the year with a strong performance against Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Berhalter said. “As we look towards 2022, this camp gives us the opportunity to see some new faces and allows our core domestic players to maintain their fitness levels.”

The match against Bosnia and Herzegovina falls outside of a FIFA international fixture date, leaving players who are still in-season largely unavailable.

DETAILED ROSTED BY POSITION (CLUB; CAPS/GOALS):

GOALKEEPERS (3): John Pulskamp (Sporting Kansas City; 0/0), Gabriel Slonina (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Matt Turner (New England Revolution; 12/0)

DEFENDERS (11): George Bello (Atlanta United; 5/0), Justin Che (FC Dallas; 0/0), Jonathan Gomez (Louisville City; 0/0), Kobi Henry (Orange County SC; 0/0), Henry Kessler (New England Revolution; 1/0), Brooks Lennon (Atlanta United; 0/0), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 21/3), Kevin Paredes (D.C. United; 0/0), Bryan Reynolds (Roma/ITA; 1/0), Auston Trusty (Colorado Rapids; 0/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 22/2)

MIDFIELDERS (5): Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 44/2), Cole Bassett (Colorado Rapids; 0/0), Johnny Cardoso (Internacional/BRA; 2/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 29/0), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; 15/0)

FORWARDS (7): Taylor Booth (Bayern Munich II/GER; 0/0), Caden Clark (New York Red Bulls; 0/0), Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; 4/2), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; 39/10), Ricardo Pepi (FC Dallas; 6/3), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew; 65/14)

ON THE HORIZON

The winter camps have always presented a window for those playing their way into an opportunity with the national team programs, for now and in the future. In this go around, a total of seven players will take part in their first camp as rostered senior USMNT players: Taylor Booth, Caden Clark, Jonathan Gomez, Kobi Henry, Kevin Paredes, John Pulskamp, and Gabriel Slonina. All told, 12 players will have a shot at earning their first cap for the United States.

ROSTER NOTES

• As of the start of camp on December 6, the 26-player roster will have an average age of 23 years, 110 days, with 15 players age 20 or younger.
• The roster averages 10 caps and six in official competition.
• Twenty-one of the 26 players come from 12 different MLS clubs. The Colorado Rapids lead the way with four selections followed by FC Dallas (3), Atlanta United (2), New England Revolution (2), New York Red Bulls (2), San Jose Earthquakes (2), Seattle Sounders (2), Chicago Fire (1), Columbus Crew (1), D.C. United (1), Nashville SC (1), Sporting Kansas City (1).
• USL defenders Jonathan Gomez (Louisville City) and Kobi Henry (Orange County SC) round out the domestic contingent.
• Three players join USMNT camp from foreign clubs: defender Bryan Reynolds (Roma), midfielder Johnny Cardoso (Internacional), forward Taylor Booth (Bayern Munich II)
• With 65 appearances, veteran forward Gyasi Zardes leads the list of eight players with double-digit caps. He’s followed by Kellyn Acosta (44), Jordan Morris (39), Cristian Roldan (29), Walker Zimmerman (22), Aaron Long (21), Jackson Yueill (15) and Matt Turner (12)
• The December camp marks the return of winger Jordan Morris, who last took part in the USMNT’s January camp before joining Swansea City on loan. The forward’s stay with the EFL Championship club was cut short after he tore his left ACL in a match on Feb. 20, but he recovered in time to make two regular season appearances and one MLS Cup playoff appearance for the Seattle Sounders.
• Twenty-year-old, Brazil-based midfielder Johnny Cardoso returns to USMNT camp for the first time since earning his first two caps in the team’s November 2020 friendlies at Wales and against Panama.
• Six players were part of the USMNT’s November WCQ roster: Kellyn Acosta, Jesús Ferreira, Ricardo Pepi, Cristian Roldan, Matt Turner and Walker Zimmerman, while George Bello and Gyasi Zardes featured for the team in October and Jackson Yueill was an unused sub during the team’s 4-1 WCQ win at Honduras in September.
• Seven players will take part in their first camp as rostered USMNT players: Taylor Booth, Caden Clark, Jonathan Gomez, Kobi Henry, Kevin Paredes, John Pulskamp, Gabriel Slonina.
• Goalkeeper Matt Turner comes off a stellar year for club and country, one which he earned 12 caps for the USMNT, backstopping the team to the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup where he won the tournament’s Golden Glove as best goalkeeper. Similarly, Turner helped the New England Revolution claim the club’s first Supporters Shield, while also earning 2021 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and Best XI honors.
• Defender Walker Zimmerman comes to USMNT camp on the back of winning his second consecutive MLS Defender of the Year award. The center back appeared in 25 matches, helping Nashville SC to another appearance in the MLS postseason.
• After a nearly two-year absence, midfielder Kellyn Acosta made his USMNT return during last year’s December camp and went on to amass a team-leading 20 appearances in 2021, tying Landon Donovan for the most caps in a calendar year since 2002.
• Twelve players will seek their first caps in the Dec. 18 friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina: Cole Bassett, Taylor Booth, Justin Che, Caden Clark, Cade Cowell, Jonathan Gomez, Kobi Henry, Brooks Lennon, Kevin Paredes, John Pulskamp, Gabriel Slonina, Auston Trusty
• After last appearing in the 2018 January camp, Atlanta United full back Brooks Lennon earns his first USMNT call-up under Gregg Berhalter.
• Similarly, Colorado Rapids center back Auston Trusty gains his first camp summons since the 2019 January Camp.
• Midfielder Cole Bassett and forward Cade Cowell both took part in this year’s January camp, while Justin Che was part of the roster for the USMNT’s May camp in Switzerland.

D.C. UNITED MEDIA CONTACT: 

Zachary Abaie

Vice President of Communications

D.C. United

(540) 207-7931

zabaie@dcunited.com