USMNT opens 2018 slate Sunday with friendly vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina

CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – With the potential for several promising young players to earn their first senior team appearances, the U.S. Men’s National Team opens 2018 with a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday, Jan. 28 in Carson, Calif. Coverage of USA-Bosnia and Herzegovina kicks off from StubHub Center at 9:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1, UniMas and UDN.

U.S. MNT Roster by Position (Club; Caps/Goals):
GOALKEEPERS (4): Alex Bono (Toronto FC/CAN; 0/0), Bill Hamid (Midtjylland/DEN; 4/0), Cody Cropper (New England Revolution; 0/0), Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew SC; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (9): Danny Acosta (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Justin Morrow (Toronto FC/CAN; 3/0), Ike Opara (Sporting Kansas City; 0/0), Tim Parker (Vancouver Whitecaps FC/CAN; 0/0), Matt Polster (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Brandon Vincent (Chicago Fire; 1/0), Walker Zimmerman (Los Angeles Football Club; 1/0)
MIDFIELDERS (11): Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls; 1/0), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 15/2), Russell Canouse (D.C. United; 0/0), Marky Delgado (Toronto FC/CAN; 0/0), Marlon Hairston (Colorado Rapids; 0/0), Ian Harkes (D.C. United; 0/0), Brooks Lennon (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 1/0), Kelyn Rowe (New England Revolution; 3/1), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 2/0), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC; 37/6)
FORWARDS (5): Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution; 27/3), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 24/5), Christian Ramirez (Minnesota United FC; 0/0), Rubio Rubin (Unattached; 3/0), CJ Sapong (Philadelphia Union; 3/0)

STORYLINES

MOVING UP THE DEVELOPMENT LADDER
Most encouragingly on this roster, the group is heavily populated with players moving through the development pipeline, starting with Youth National Team experience. Twelve players have been included on the final U.S. roster at a FIFA Youth World Cup , including recent U-20 MNT graduates Danny Acosta, Tyler Adams, Justen Glad and Brooks Lennon, who were part of the team that reached the quarterfinal of the 2017 U-20 World Cup. In addition, 19 players have U.S. Soccer Development Academy ties.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
This time of year, one normally sees a notable amount of young and uncapped players and this time around it’s even more pronounced. A total of 52 percent of the roster is hoping to make their international debut at the end of the month, while 10 are getting their first taste of a senior National Team camp . Youth is well served, as 20 players on the 29-man squad are 24-years-old or younger.

ON THE INJURED LIST
A few of the USA’s best and brightest were unavailable for selection due to injury. Paul Arriola had a minor procedure immediately following the season for D.C. United. Jordan Morris continues to recover from a hamstring injury, while Bobby Wood has been dealing with a lingering knee issue and is using the international break to receive treatment. In addition, players involved in their league playoffs were allowed to remain with their clubs.

USA-BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA NOTES

• The U.S. will face Bosnia and Herzegovina for just the second time.
• The U.S. won the first meeting, using a Jozy Altidore hat trick to erase a 2-0 deficit and defeat Zmajevi 4-3 on Aug. 14, 2013 in Sarajevo.
• No one on either roster appeared in that match.

USA ROSTER NOTES:

• Twenty players are 24 and under, while the average age of the roster at 24 years, 122 days on gameday.
• Twelve players have been part of a final U.S. roster at a FIFA Youth World Cup: Danny Acosta, Tyler Adams, Juan Agudelo, Paul Arriola, Cody Cropper, Marky Delgado, Justen Glad, Brooks Lennon, Ike Opara, Rubio Rubin, Zack Steffen and Wil Trapp.
• Five players took part in the MNT’s most recent camp leading up to a 1-1 draw against defending European champions Portugal on Nov. 14, 2017: Adams, Juan Agudelo, Bill Hamid, Kelyn Rowe and CJ Sapong.
• Fifteen players came into camp looking for their first cap.
• Ten players are finishing up their first MNT camp: Acosta, Russell Canouse, Delgado, Glad, Marlon Hairston, Ian Harkes, Lennon, Nick Lima, Opara and Christian Ramirez.
• Nineteen have ties to U.S. Soccer Development Academy clubs: Acosta, Glad, Lennon (Real Salt Lake-AZ); Adams, Agudelo, Canouse (New York Red Bulls); Hamid, Harkes (D.C. United); Arriola, Zardes (LA Galaxy); Bono (Empire United), Delgado (Chivas USA); Lima (San Jose Earthquakes); Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Rowe (Crossfire Premier); Rubin (IMG Academy); Steffen (Philadelphia Union); Trapp (Columbus Crew SC); Vincent (Real So Cal).
• With 37 caps, Gyasi Zardes is the most seasoned player at the international level, followed by Juan Agudelo (27), Jordan Morris (24) and Paul Arriola (15).
• Eighteen MLS clubs are represented on the roster with D.C. United, New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC leading the way with three selections each.
• Opara comes to his first MNT camp fresh off winning MLS Defender of the Year with Sporting KC.
• MLS Best XI selection Justin Morrow is joined by fellow Toronto FC treble-winners goalkeeper Alex Bono and midfielder Marky Delgado.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Kenan Pirić (HSK Zrinjski; 0/0), Ibrahim Šehić (FC Qarabag/AZE; 6/0), Nemanja Trjulja (FK Borac Banja Luka; 0/0) 
DEFENDERS (6): Almir Bekić (FK Sarajevo; 1/0), Daniel Graovac (FK Željezničar; 1/0), Marko Mihojević (FK Sarajevo; 0/0), Besim Šerbečić (FK Radnik Bijeljina; 0/0), Darko Todorović (FK Sloboda Tuzla; 0/0) 
MIDFIELDERS (10): Dino Beširevic (FK Radnik Bijeljina; 0/0), Marijan Ćavar (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER; 0/0), Zoran Kvrižic (HNK Rijeka/CRO; 3/0), Stjepan Lončar (NK Široki Breijeg; 0/0), Haris Medunjanin (Philadelphia Union/USA; 55/11), Elvis Sarić (FK Sarajevo; 0/0), Adnan Šećerović (FK Mladost Doboj Kakanj; 0/0), Ognjen Todorović (HSK Zrinjski; 0/0), Tomislav Tomić (NK Olimpija Ljubljana/SVN; 0/0), Goran Zakarić (FK Željezničar; 1/0)
FORWARDS (4): Mersudin Ahmetović (FK Sarajevo; 0/0), Nemanja Bilbija (HSK Zrinjski; 0/0), Elvir Coljić (FK Krupa; 0/0), Luka Menalo (NK Široki Brijeg; 0/0)

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA NOTES

• Bosnia and Herzegovina narrowly missed out on making the UEFA World Cup Qualifying playoff, finishing third in Group H behind Belgium and Greece.
• The match will mark the first game in charge for newly-appointed head coach Robert Prosinečki. The former Real Madrid and Barcelona midfielder is best known for being part of the Croatia side that finished third at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.
• The most experienced played on the roster is Philadelphia Union midfielder Haris Medunjanin, who has tallied 11 goals in 55 international appearances.
• Eighteen of the 23 players are based with Bosnian clubs, with players also representing sides in Azerbaijan, Croatia, Germany, Slovenia and the United States.