Sporting Kansas City defender Matt Besler and winger Graham Zusi were named to the United States Men’s National Team roster for two upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers, U.S. Soccer announced on Sunday.
Besler and Zusi have joined the United States’ 26-man squad ahead of two pivotal matches in CONCACAF’s semifinal round of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The U.S. will travel to face St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday at Arnos Vale Stadium in Kingstown (2:30 p.m. CT, beIN SPORTS) before hosting Trinidad and Tobago on Sept. 6 at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida (7 p.m. CT, FS1 and UniMas).
The United States currently occupies second place in Group C — three points behind leaders Trinidad and Tobago and a point ahead of third-place Guatemala — with two matches remaining in the semifinal round. The top two teams from the group will advance to the “Hexagonal,” the final round of World Cup qualifying which features six nations from the CONCACAF region.
Led by head coach Jurgen Klinsmann and coming off a fourth-place finish at the 2016 Copa America Centenario, the U.S. could clinch progression to the Hexagonal with a win Friday at St. Vincent and the Grenadines and a Guatemala loss to Trinidad and Tobago on the same day. If not, the U.S. might face a do-or-die final group-stage game against Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday, with the chance to win the group potentially at stake.
Besler, 29, has earned 35 caps for the U.S. since debuting in 2013, including two starts at the 2016 Copa America Centenario this summer. The center back helped lead the U.S. to the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup title and started all four matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil as the Americans reached the Round of 16.
A native of Overland Park, Kansas, Besler joined Sporting Kansas City in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft out of Notre Dame. He ranks sixth in club history with 234 appearances in all competitions and has received MLS Best XI (2012-13), MLS All-Star (2011, 2013-16) and 2012 MLS Defender of the Year accolades.
Zusi, 30, has made 40 appearances for the U.S. since 2012, contributing five goals and six assists. The versatile midfielder played in five of the Yanks’ six matches at the 2016 Copa America Centenario, scoring vs. Costa Rica on June 7 and starting in the semifinal against world No. 1 Argentina. Zusi recorded two assists in four games at the 2014 FIFA World Cup before featuring in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
A native of Longwood, Florida, Zusi has amassed 28 goals and 60 assists in 223 competitive appearances for Sporting Kansas City since joining the club alongside Besler in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft out of Maryland. He has landed MLS Best XI (2012-13) and 2011 MLS Breakout Player of the Year honors and was the only player to appear in every MLS All-Star Game between 2012 and 2015.
U.S. MNT ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Middlesbrough), Ethan Horvath (Molde FC), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids)
DEFENDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), John Brooks (Hertha BSC), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Caleb Stanko (FC Vaduz), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Rubio Rubin (FC Utrecht), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (Hamburg SV)
