Sporting Kansas City winger Graham Zusi was named to the United States Men’s National Team’s roster on Sunday ahead of a crucial 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Guatemala on Tuesday at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio (6 p.m. CT, ESPN2, UniMas, UDN).
Zusi has earned 32 caps for the United States with three goals and six assists, including two assists at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, since his international debut in 2012. He most recently featured for the U.S. at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, making three appearances in the tournament.
Sporting KC captain Matt Besler will travel to Kansas City today after sustaining a concussion in training last Thursday.
Led by head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, the U.S. occupies third place in Group C in CONCACAF's semifinal round of World Cup qualifying, which consists of 12 countries divided into three groups. The top two finishers from each group advancing to the final qualifying round, commonly named "The Hexagonal." Three matches remain in the semifinal stage, and the U.S. would move into second place with a win on Tuesday.
Now in his eighth season with Sporting Kansas City, Zusi is the only player to appear in each of the last four MLS All-Star Games and has received MLS Best XI (2012, 2013) and Breakout Player of the Year (2011) honors.
A 2009 MLS SuperDraft selection out of the University of Maryland, Zusi ranks second on Sporting KC’s all-competitions assist chart (57) and his 24 regular season goals scored are 10th most in club history. The Designated Player has logged 90 minutes in each of Sporting KC’s three wins to open the 2016 season.
