USMNT travel roster set for upcoming friendly, featuring several U-23 players

CHICAGO – USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter has chosen a 25-player roster in advance of USA-Trinidad & Tobago on Jan. 31 in Orlando. Coverage from Exploria Stadium for the USA’s first match of 2021 begins at 7 p.m. ET on FS1, UniMás and TUDN.

The group was selected from an initial list of 12 senior team players and 26 U-23 MNT players that began training on Jan. 9 at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. The team traveled to Orlando on Sunday afternoon.

LAFC defender Tristan Blackmon suffered a concussion in training Saturday and will return to Los Angeles today.

At the start of a crucial 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, the tilt against the Soca Warriors gives the players an opportunity to stake their claim for spots.

“These last two weeks have been an absolute pleasure. The hard work and determination demonstrated by the entire group confirms that the player pool is headed in the right direction,” Berhalter said. “As we transition to Orlando, we switch gears and focus on competing as we prepare to face Trinidad and Tobago.”

A total of 15 MLS teams are represented, with hometown Orlando City SC contributing a league-high four players. Sixteen players are age-eligible for the 2021 Concacaf Olympic Qualifying Championship to be played from March 18-30 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

USMNT DETAILED ROSTED BY POSITION (Club; Caps/Goals):

GOALKEEPERS (3): Matt Freese (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), JT Marcinkowski (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Matt Turner (New England Revolution; 0/0)

DEFENDERS (9): Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy; 1/0), George Bello (Atlanta United FC; 0/0), Kyle Duncan (New York Red Bulls; 1/0), Aaron Herrera (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 18/3), Mauricio Pineda (Chicago Fire FC; 0/0), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United FC; 2/0), Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids; 2/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 13/2)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 24/2), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 17/4), Benji Michel (Orlando City SC; 0/0), Andrés Perea (Orlando City SC; 0/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 19/0), Tanner Tessmann (FC Dallas; 0/0), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; 8/0)

FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 115/42), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 34/6), Daryl Dike (Orlando City SC; 0/0), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; 1/0), Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids; 6/0), Chris Mueller (Orlando City SC; 1/2)

USMNT ROSTER NOTES

• As of Jan. 31, the average age of the roster will be 23 years, 302 days
• The roster also averages 10 caps
• A total of 15 MLS clubs are represented and Sunday’s match hosts Orlando City SC lead the way with four selections: Daryl Dike, Benji Michel, Chris Mueller, Andrés Perea
• MLS club representation: Orlando City SC (4), Colorado Rapids (3), Atlanta United FC, FC Dallas, LA Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, San Jose Earthquakes (2 each), Chicago Fire FC, D.C. United, Nashville SC, New England Revolution, Philadelphia Union, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders FC, Toronto FC (1 each)
• Sixteen players are age-eligible for the 2021 Concacaf Olympic Qualifying Championship to be played from March 18-30 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
• Forward Jozy Altidore (115 caps) is the most senior player, followed by Paul Arriola (34), Kellyn Acosta (24), Cristian Roldan (19), Aaron Long (18) and Sebastian Lletget (17)
• Twenty players hold 10 or fewer caps, while 10 will seek their international debut: George Bello, Daryl Dike, Matt Freese, Aaron Herrera, JT Marcinkowski, Benji Michel, Andrés Perea, Mauricio Pineda, Tanner Tessmann, Matt Turner
• Six players made their USMNT debuts during a January camp friendly: Kellyn Acosta (Jan. 31, 2016 vs. Iceland), Jesús Ferreira (Feb. 1, 2020 vs. Costa Rica), Jonathan Lewis (Jan. 29, 2019 vs. Panama), Sebastian Lletget (Jan. 29, 2017 vs. Serbia), Sam Vines (Feb. 1, 2020 vs. Costa Rica), Walker Zimmerman (Feb. 3, 2017 vs. Jamaica.
• A total of 10 players took part in the USMNT’s 6-0 win against El Salvador last month: Julian Araujo, Paul Arriola, Sebastian Lletget, Aaron Long, Chris Mueller, Sam Vines, and Jackson Yueill started the match, while Kellyn Acosta, Kyle Duncan 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 appearance. 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 he took part in some of last year’s January Camp, Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Cristian Roldan will seek his first cap since the 4-0 win against Cuba in Concacaf Nations League group stage play on Nov. 19, 2019.