U.S. Men's National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has submitted the preliminary roster for the historic 2016 Copa America Centenario, including Sporting Kansas City defender Matt Besler and winger Graham Zusi among the 40-man squad.
The U.S. will begin training camp May 16 in Miami, with MLS players joining the team on May 23 in advance of their Copa America opener against Colombia on June 3 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Children’s Mercy Park will host the United States' third and final tune-up match against and Bolivia on May 28 at 7 p.m. CT, and tickets for the match can be purchased via Ticketmaster.com.
Besler, 29, has earned 31 caps for the U.S. since debuting in January 2013, including two starts this year. He started all four matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and helped lead the Yanks to the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup title. The Kansas native has earned MLS Best XI (2012-13), MLS All-Star (2011, 2013-15) and 2012 MLS Defender of the Year honors since being selected in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Notre Dame.
Zusi, 29, has made 33 international appearances since 2012 with four goals and six assists, including two assists at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He competed at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup and last month scored for the U.S. in a World Cup qualifying win over Guatemala. Zusi has garnered MLS All-Star (2012-15), MLS Best XI (2012-13) and 2011 MLS Breakout Player of the Year accolades since joining Besler as part of Sporting KC's 2009 MLS SuperDraft class out of the University of Maryland.
The Copa America Centenario will be played in 10 cities across the U.S. from June 3-26. The competition is a celebration of the 100th anniversary of CONMEBOL and the Copa America, and will be the first edition of the tournament played outside of South America.
U.S. PRELIMINARY ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (5): David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Ethan Horvath (Molde), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (15): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Ventura Alvarado (Club America), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Monterrey), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest), Matt Miazga (Chelsea FC), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), Tim Ream (Fulham), DeAndre Yedlin (Sunderland)
MIDFIELDERS (12): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (FC Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), Perry Kitchen (Heart of Midlothian), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution), Danny Williams (Reading FC), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (8): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund),Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (Union Berlin), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
