CHICAGO (Jan. 5, 2020) – At the start of a significant year for the U.S. Men’s National Team that includes the Concacaf Nations League Final Four, the Gold Cup and the start of 2022 World Cup Qualifying, USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter will begin 2021 with a gathering of 12 players on Jan. 9 at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
The senior team group, consisting of players aged 24 and older, will train alongside the U-23 USMNT through January 24, at which point several U-23 players will be elevated to the full USMNT roster in advance of a planned match at the end of the month.
“This is an important year for our National Team programs, and we are looking to maximize every possible opportunity,” Berhalter said. “For the senior team players, this is an opportunity to continue to develop as a group and build on the foundation of a busy and challenging year. Being alongside our U-23 team gives that group a chance to prepare for Olympic Qualifying while further integrating into our culture and game model.”
USMNT DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; Caps/Goals):
GOALKEEPERS (2): Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 9/0), Matt Turner (New England Revolution; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (3): Tristan Blackmon (LAFC; 0/0), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 18/3), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 13/2)
MIDFIELDERS (3): Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 24/2), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 17/4), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 19/0)
FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 115/42), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 34/6), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 39/10), Chris Mueller (Orlando City SC; 1/2)
USMNT ROSTER NOTES
- The current roster holds an average of 27 years, 48 days and 24 caps.
- The 12 players represent 11 different MLS clubs: Seattle Sounders FC (2), Colorado Rapids, D.C. United, LAFC, Nashville SC, New England Revolution, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City SC and Toronto FC.
- Returning to the USMNT for the first time since the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup, striker Jozy Altidore is the senior-most player on the roster with 115 caps. He’s followed by Jordan Morris (39), Paul Arriola (34), Kellyn Acosta (24) and Aaron Long (18).
- Defender Tristan Blackmon is the lone newcomer on the USMNT roster. The 24-year-old right back completed his third season with LAFC in 2020, appearing in 20 matches across all competitions, while helping the club to the final of the 2019-20 Concacaf Champions League.
- Blackmon joins veteran goalkeeper Matt Turner as the two players on the senior roster seeking their first caps this month.
- Six players on the senior roster took part in the USMNT’s 6-0 win against El Salvador last month: Paul Arriola, Aaron Long, Sebastian Lletget and Chris Mueller started the match, while Kellyn Acosta and Walker Zimmerman entered as substitutes.
- Mueller debuted in the El Salvador match, becoming just the sixth player to score two goals in his first USMNT match. Mueller also provided an assist in the 6-0 win.
- Arriola opened the scoring against El Salvador with his sixth international goal, while Lletget found the back of the net for the fourth time and his second consecutive USMNT match.
- Lletget was also the lone USMNT player to appear in all four matches in 2020.
- Though they took part in some of last year’s January Camp, the Seattle Sounders FC duo of Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan will seek their first caps since the 4-0 win against Cuba in Concacaf Nations League group stage play on Nov. 19, 2019.
- Four players on the senior roster earned their USMNT debuts during a January camp match: Kellyn Acosta (Jan. 31, 2016 vs. Iceland), Sean Johnson (January 22, 2011 vs. Chile), Sebastian Lletget (January 29, 2017 vs. Serbia) and Walker Zimmerman (February 3, 2017 vs. Jamaica).
- Jozy Altidore scored his first international goal during a January camp friendly, tallying in the 2-2 draw with Mexico on Feb. 6, 2008.
