D.C. United defender Steven Birnbaum has been named to the U.S. Men's National Team final roster for the upcoming World Cup Qualifying matches on Sept. 2 at St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Sept. 6 against Trinidad & Tobago in Jacksonville, Florida.
“We’re ecstatic that [Steve’s] going to be a part of the [qualifying] process as we think he’s a valuable asset to them,” United head coach Ben Olsen said. “By going through that experience it makes us better. He comes back with more experience and more confidence and any time you get to play in extremely important games against international competition it pushes you.”
The California native has made seven appearances for the national team since his debut on Jan. 28, 2015 against Chile and played a prominent role for head coach Jurgen Klinsmann throughout 2016. After Birnbaum scored his first international goal against Iceland on Jan. 31, (his header off a Michael Bradley corner earned the Red, White and Blue a dramatic victory at the StubHub Center in Carson, Ca. in the 90th minute), he made his World Cup Qualifier debut against Guatemala in March and was selected to the final roster for the Copa America Centenario.
“It shows the faith that Jurgen [Klinsmann] has in Steve [Birnbaum] that he’s going to be a part of this process,” said D.C. United head coach Ben Olsen. “Qualification is a whole other experience that pushes him in his development. It expands you and challenges you and ultimately that’s going to make him a better player. That will translate to our crew here, so I’m very excited that he gets that opportunity. It’s well deserved and now he’s got to go there and make the best of it.”
Birnbaum, 25, has made 63 league appearances for the Black-and-Red, was a 2016 MLS All-Star and was named a Rookie of the Year finalist in 2014. The United States currently sit in second place in Group C of the Semifinal round of CONCACAF qualifying with seven points, three behind first-place Trinidad and Tobago. The two September matches represent the final hurdle between the U.S. and the last round of qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, known as the “Hexagonal.”
“We want to get ourselves in a good position for the next round and carry momentum from the last couple of games,” Birnbaum said. “I’m excited to [meet up] with the team and hopefully contribute.”
Birnbaum, one of 13 MLS-based players to make the roster, will join the team in Jacksonville on Sunday, August 28.
U.S. Roster by Position
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Middlesbrough), Ethan Horvath (Molde FC), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids)
DEFENDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), John Brooks (Hertha BSC), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Caleb Stanko (FC Vaduz), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Rubio Rubin (FC Utrecht), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (Hamburg SV)
