United defender Steve Birnbaum has been named to Jurgen Klinsmann’s United States Men’s National Team final roster for the upcoming World Cup Qualifying matches against Mexico on Nov. 11 and Costa Rica on Nov. 15.
Birnbaum, 25, has nine caps for the national team dating back to his debut on Jan. 28 of this year, scoring his first international goal several days later on Jan. 31 (a game-winner against Iceland). Birnbaum was also named to Klinsmann’s squad for the Copa America Centenario over the summer and World Cup Qualifiers in March and September. He made his second career start in a World Cup Qualifier on Sept. 6, in a 4-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago.
The third-year defender from California played in his most productive season yet in 2016, setting career highs in appearances, starts, minutes, goals, assists and shots while being named to his first MLS All-Star Game. He scored goals in back-to-back matches (8/06 and 8/13) and his third (and career-high) against the New York Red Bulls on 9/11.
U.S. Roster by position
GOALKEEPERS: Brad Guzan (Middlesbrough), Ethan Horvath (Molde), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids), William Yarbrough (Leon).
DEFENDERS: Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham Hotspur), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Michael Orozco (Tijuana), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle).
MIDFIELDERS: Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Lynden Gooch (Sunderland), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Caleb Stanko (Vaduz), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City).
FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Aron Johannsson (Werder Bremen), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Bobby Wood (Hamburg).
