SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC midfielder Cristian Roldan has been called into the annual U.S. Men's National Team January Camp, which begins on January 6 at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center in Southern California. Roldan is one of 27 players selected by new Head Coach Gregg Berhalter, with the USMNT set to face Panama and Costa Rica in friendlies on January 27 and February 2, respectively.
Roldan, 23, has five career senior caps for the USMNT, including four in the 2018 calendar year. He made his debut in a 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage match against Martinique, then appeared this past year vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (January 28), Paraguay (March 2), Brazil (September 7) and Mexico (September 11). The University of Washington product recorded four goals and a career-high nine assists for Sounders FC in 2018 as he became the first field player in club history to start all 34 MLS regular season matches.
The camp and friendlies mark the first for Berhalter since being named United States Head Coach in December. The 2019 campaign opens against Panama on January 27 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (5:00 p.m. PT / ESPN2, Univision Networks). The USMNT continues preparation for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup one week later when it welcomes regional rival Costa Rica to Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California on February 2 (12:30 p.m. PT / FOX, Univision Networks).
With the dates falling outside of the designated international calendar for national team competitions, the January Camp typically consists largely of MLS-based players who are not in season. This time around, Berhalter has selected a roster exclusively coming from the domestic league. Seventeen different MLS clubs are represented, with Columbus Crew SC, Los Angeles FC and Toronto FC leading the way with three selections each.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB, CAPS/GOALS)
GOALKEEPERS (4): Alex Bono (Toronto FC/CAN; 1/0), Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 5/0), Tyler Miller (LAFC; 0/0), Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew SC; 6/0)
DEFENDERS (10): Reggie Cannon (FC Dallas; 2/0), Greg Garza (FC Cincinnati; 10/0), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 2/0), Daniel Lovitz (Montreal Impact/CAN; 0/0), Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Keegan Rosenberry (Colorado Rapids; 0/0), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Walker Zimmerman (LAFC; 4/1)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 23/2), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 17/2), Corey Baird (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 142/17), Russell Canouse (D.C. United; 0/0), Marky Delgado (Toronto FC/CAN; 6/0), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 5/1), Djordje Mihailovic (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 5/0), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 11/0)
FORWARDS (3): Jeremy Ebobisse (Portland Timbers; 0/0), Christian Ramirez (LAFC; 0/0), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC; 40/6)
