SEATTLE, WASH. – Four Sounders FC players have been called in to the U.S. Men’s National Team for its annual January Camp, U.S. Soccer announced today. Jordan Morris, Brad Evans, Chad Marshall and Stefan Frei were all included on Head Coach Bruce Arena’s 32-man roster as the USMNT begins preparation for 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in March. Players report on January 10, with the session set to run through a pair of friendlies against Serbia on January 29 and Jamaica on February 3.
This marks the first training camp coached by Arena since he took over for Jurgen Klinsmann in November of last year, and comes just two months before the final round of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup resumes. The entire 32-player roster comes from MLS, representing 15 different clubs. Since the camp does not fall during a recognized FIFA international window for the release of players, only those who are not in season are available to be selected.
Morris, 22, has 12 caps for the U.S. Men's National Team, including three appearances in 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying thus far. He became the first collegiate player to earn a cap since 1995 when he made his debut on November 18, 2014, then scored his first international goal in a friendly win over Mexico at the Alamodome on April 15, 2015. The Sounders FC Homegrown Player scored 14 goals in his first professional campaign (including postseason) and earned 2016 AT&T MLS Rookie of the Year honors.
Evans, 31, has 26 international caps and last appeared for the USMNT in a 3-2 friendly win over Iceland on January 31 of last year. He has one international goal – a stoppage-time winner at Jamaica on June 7, 2013, the latest match-winning goal in U.S. FIFA World Cup Qualifying history. Evans started five qualifying matches for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Marshall, 32, has 11 career appearances for the U.S. Men’s National Team, last featuring in a friendly against Honduras on January 23, 2010. The only three-time winner of MLS Defender of the Year, Marshall has spent the last three seasons with Seattle after a 10-year stint with Columbus Crew SC.
Fresh off of a 2016 MLS Cup MVP performance against Toronto, Frei, 30, receives his first USMNT call-up. Frei, along with Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s Kekuta Manneh, is in the process of completing his eligibility requirements to represent the United States. While that process is ongoing, they both are clear to participate in the training camp.
The U.S. begins the 2017 campaign with a friendly against Serbia on January 29 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, Calif. Kickoff for Bruce Arena’s first match back in charge is set for 1:00 p.m. PT, and broadcast live on ESPN2 and UniMas. Five days later, the USMNT makes its first visit to Chattanooga on February 3 when it hosts regional rival Jamaica. Kickoff in front of an expected capacity crowd of 20,000 at Finley Stadium is set for 4:00 p.m. PT, with the match broadcast live on FS1 and UniMas (simulcast on UDN).
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (5): David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Stefan Frei (Seattle Sounders FC), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)
DEFENDERS (10): DaMarcus Beasley (Unattached), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Greg Garza (Atlanta United FC), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Taylor Kemp (D.C. United), Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC), Keegan Rosenberry (Philadelphia Union), Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
MIDFIELDERS (12): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Jermaine Jones (Unattached), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Kekuta Manneh (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Dax McCarty (New York Red Bulls), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Chris Pontius (Philadelphia Union), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC)
FORWARDS (5): Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
