Twenty-four player USMNT roster selected for training camp in Orlando

CHICAGO – With a total of 13 players returning for the first time since the successful run at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the USMNT seeks to advance to the Concacaf Nations League Final Four as 24 players have been called to Orlando for training camp.

As defending CNL champions following a thrilling 3-2 defeat of Mexico in extra time of the inaugural championship match in 2021, the USMNT has two matches remaining to close out Group D. Currently in second place with four points and one behind El Salvador, the USA opens the window away to Grenada on March 24 at Kirani James Athletic Stadium in Saint George’s (8 p.m. ET; TNT, Universo, Peacock).

Three days later, the USA faces El Salvador at Exploria Stadium (TICKETS). That match will be broadcast live on TNT and Universo and streamed on Peacock. Coverage begins at 7 p.m., with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

“First and foremost, our objective is to win both matches. We want to defend our Nations League title and also qualify for this summer’s Gold Cup, and to do that we need to get results,” USMNT head coach Anthony Hudson said. “From there, we want to maintain the standards that we’ve set and continue to build on the accomplishments of the last four years. We walked away from the World Cup knowing that we are capable of more, and we’re excited to continue to move this group forward.”

[Q&A: Anthony Hudson Discusses Squad Selection]

USMNT ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB/COUNTRY; CAPS/GOALS)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Luton Town/ENG; 8/0), Zack Steffen (Middlesbrough/ENG; 29/0), Matt Turner (Arsenal/ENG; 24/0)

DEFENDERS (8): Sergiño Dest (AC Milan/ITA; 23/2), Mark McKenzie (Genk/BEL; 10/0), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 50/1), Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo/BEL; 2/0), Antonee Robinson (Fulham; 33/2), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United; 20/3), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach/GER; 3/0), Auston Trusty (Birmingham City/ENG; 0/0)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United/ENG; 28/6), Johnny Cardoso (Internacional/BRA; 4/0), Luca de la Torre (Celta Vigo/ESP; 12/0), Weston McKennie (Leeds United/ENG; 41/9), Yunus Musah (Valencia/ESP; 23/0), Alan Soñora (Juárez/MEX; 2/0)

FORWARDS (7): Taylor Booth (Utrecht/NED; 0/0), Daryl Dike (West Bromwich Albion/ENG; 8/3), Ricardo Pepi (Groningen/NED; 12/3), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea/ENG; 56/22), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 16/4), Tim Weah (Lille/FRA; 29/4), Alex Zendejas (Club América/MEX; 1/0)

WORLD CUP VETERANS RETURN

With this being the first international window on the FIFA calendar since last December, a baker’s dozen of European-based players return for the first time since featuring in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Christian Pulisic leads all players on the roster with 56 caps and has scored four times at Exploria Stadium in Orlando during his national team career. Fulham and Leeds United from English Premier League each contribute a pair of players as the defensive duo of Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson head to Orlando joined by Brenden Aaronson and Weston McKennie.

The full list of World Cup returnees: Brenden Aaronson, Luca de la Torre, Sergiño Dest, Ethan Horvath, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Christian Pulisic, Tim Ream, Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson, Joe Scally, Matt Turner, Tim Weah.

BACK IN THE MIX

As the only MLS-based player on the roster, Atlanta United center back Miles Robinson makes his USMNT return after recovering from a torn Achilles tendon suffered with his club last May. The 26-year-old last appeared for the USMNT on March 30, 2022 at Costa Rica, the night the team qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Coincidentally, Robinson scored his first international goal at Exploria Stadium in 2021. Meantime, goalkeeper Zack Steffen also returns to camp for the first time since that March 2022 window when he appeared in all three matches to help the USA qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

After injuries kept him out of the National Team throughout 2022, striker Daryl Dike will seek his first USMNT cap since the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup Semifinal win against Qatar, while fellow striker Ricardo Pepi has nine goals and three assists in 20 matches for FC Groningen. Defender Bryan Reynolds also returns to the USMNT for the first time since the December 2021 friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Two players are seeking their USMNT debuts: Utrecht winger Taylor Booth and Birmingham City center back Auston Trusty. Both have been called for previous USMNT camps, with Booth last summoned in December 2021 and Trusty last taking part in January 2022.

FROM LIGA MX

A pair of dual nationals join the squad by way of Liga MX. On March 14, Mexican-American winger Alex Zendejas declared his commitment to represent the United States and will meet the team in Orlando following this weekend’s Superclasico between Club América and Chivas. Alan Soñora, who holds citizenship in Argentina and the USA, linked up with FC Juárez after earning his first two caps for the USA in the matches against Serbia and Colombia this past January. Should either player appear in the Nations League matches, they would be officially tied to the United States for international competition.

WHAT IS THE NATIONS LEAGUE?

Created to maximize the quality, quantity and frequency of competitive matches for all of Concacaf’s 41 Member Associations, the 2022/23 CNL Group Stage will continue to be played in a three League format (A, B, C), with home and away round robin play on the FIFA Match Windows of June 2022 (double window) and March 2023. The Group Stage will be followed by the Concacaf Nations League Finals in June 2023 and will consist of semifinals, a third-place match, and final.

All 41 Concacaf Member Associations were allocated in a League pot based on their Concacaf Ranking following the conclusion of the FIFA Men’s International Window of March 2022. The group winners will advance to June’s Nations League semifinals.

Additionally, the Concacaf Nations League serves as qualifying for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, with the two top teams in each League A group booking their ticket. The USA can clinch its place in this year’s Gold Cup with a draw or win in either match this window.

USA VS. GRENADA

The away match in Grenada marks the fifth all-time meeting between the teams. In the CNL Group D opener last June, Jesús Ferreira’s four goals propelled the USA to a 5-0 rout in front of a sold-out crowd of 20,500 at Q2 Stadium. The 21-year Ferreira scored one before the break and added a second-half hat trick, while his FC Dallas teammate Paul Arriola also scored in the second half.

Prior to meeting in the Nations League, the USA and Grenada last played in the opening match of the 2009 Concacaf Gold Cup with Freddy Adu, Stu Holden, Robbie Rogers and Charlie Davies scoring the goals in the 4-0 win.

The teams first met during a two-leg preliminary round of qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in June 2004. Hosting the home leg, the USMNT utilized the first-career brace from DaMarcus Beasley, as well as a late goal from Greg Vanney to down the Spice Boys 3-0 in Columbus.

A week later, Beasley tallied what would stand as the game winner following goals from Landon Donovan and Josh Wolff as the USA took a 3-2 win in wild and rainy affair at Grenada’s National Stadium in St. George’s.

LAST TIME VS. EL SALVADOR

The U.S. Men’s National Team came from behind to tie El Salvador 1-1 in a Concacaf Nations League group stage match played on a rain-soaked, mud-patched field at Estadio Cuscatlán. After El Salvador’s Alexander Larin put the home side up 10 minutes before the half, second half substitutes Luca de la Torre and Jordan Morris combined to bring the USA level in second half stoppage time, with Morris heading in de la Torre’s cross for the tying goal.

USMNT ROSTER NOTES:

• The roster will hold an average age of 24 years, 71 days as of the first day of training on March 20.

• Players on the roster hold an average of 18 caps and 10 in official competition.

• Thirteen players were part of the USMNT’s 2022 FIFA World Cup roster.

• Seventeen players are 24 or younger.

• Christian Pulisic leads all players with 56 caps, followed by Tim Ream (50), Weston McKennie (41), Antonee Robinson (33), Zack Steffen (29) and Tim Weah (29).

• The roster features players who ply their trade in 10 different countries: England (10), Belgium (2), Germany (2), Mexico (2), Netherlands (2), Spain (2), Brazil (1), France (1), Italy (1) and USA (1).

• Atlanta United center back Miles Robinson makes his USMNT return after recovering from a torn Achilles tendon suffered last May. The 25-year-old last appeared for the USMNT on March 30, 2022 at Costa Rica, the night the team qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Robinson tallied his first international goal at Exploria Stadium, heading home from close range in the 55^th minute of the USA’s 7-0 rout of Trinidad and Tobago on Jan. 31, 2021.

• Goalkeeper Zack Steffen also returns to camp for the first time since the March 2022 window when he appeared in all three matches to help the USA qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

• After officially committing to play for the USA on Tuesday, winger Alex Zendejas will have the chance to represent the USMNT for the first time in official competition during the March Nations League matches. Born in Juárez, Mexico, the Club América attacker grew up in El Paso, Texas and made his senior international debut on January 25 against Serbia, having previously represented the USA at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

• Two players are seeking their USMNT debuts: Utrecht winger Taylor Booth and Birmingham City center back Auston Trusty. Both have been called for previous USMNT camps, with Booth last summoned in December 2021 and Trusty taking part in January 2022.

• After injuries kept him out of the National Team throughout 2022, striker Daryl Dike will seek his first USMNT cap since the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup Final win against Mexico. The 22-year-old scored his sixth goal of the season for EFL Championship side West Bromwich Albion in their 1-0 win against Middlesbrough last Wednesday.

• Dike and Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner both earned their first cap in Orlando during the 7-0 win against Trinidad and Tobago on Jan. 31, 2021. In that match, Turner became the first USMNT goalkeeper to save a penalty kick in their international debut when he stopped Alvin Jones’ spot kick in the 66^th minute.

• Striker Ricardo Pepi has also shown strong attacking form with Eredivisie side Groningen this season, tallying 10 goals and three assists in 22 matches across all competitions.

• Defender Bryan Reynolds also returns to the USMNT for the first time since the December 2021 friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The right back has found a great form on loan with Belgian Jupiler league side Westerlo, where he’s made 21 league appearances and contributed one goal and four assists so far this season.

• Midfielder Alan Soñora joins Alex Zendejas as the other January camp returnee. Soñora earned his first two caps for the USA in the matches against Serbia and Colombia and has since joined Liga MX side FC Juárez where he’s appeared in each of the last five matches.

• The USA’s CNL group finale against El Salvador on March 27 in Orlando occurs one year to the day of the team’s 5-1 defeat of Panama in World Cup Qualifying, a match in which Christian Pulisic recorded a hat trick to all but secure the USMNT’s place in Qatar. In total, four of Pulisic’s 22 international goals have come at Exploria Stadium, with the attacker also scoring the opener in the USA’s 4-0 qualifying win against Panama on Oct. 6, 2017.

• One of the standout U.S. players at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, veteran defender Tim Ream has continued his strong form with eighth-place Fulham this season, captaining the side in all 27 league matches. Should he appear in either match this window, it would mark Ream’s first international match on this side of the Atlantic since the opening game of qualifying on Sept. 2, 2021 at El Salvador.

• Fulham teammate Antonee Robinson scored a particularly big goal against El Salvador just over a year ago, tallying the difference-maker in a crucial 1-0 World Cup Qualifying win on Jan. 27, 2022 at Lower.com Field in Columbus.

• The only player to appear in all eight of the USMNT’s previous Concacaf Nations League matches, Weston McKennie leads the list of 14 players with previous CNL experience, followed by Pulisic and Ream (5); Aaronson, Dest, Antonee Robinson and Steffen (3); de la Torre, Horvath, McKenzie, Reyna and Weah (2); Musah and Turner (1).