CHICAGO (Jan. 9, 2015) – U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has called 28 players to Carson, Calif., for the USA’s first training camp of 2015 as the team continues on the new cycle leading towards the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
The camp, which runs from Jan. 12-Feb. 8, will be conducted across two continents. After 12 days in California, the team will head to Santiago in Chile for training from Jan. 25-29 as it prepares for its first friendly of the year against fellow 2014 World Cup side Chile on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at Estadio El Teniente in Rancagua. Kickoff time will be announced at a later date. The team will then return to the U.S. Soccer National Training Center.
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The roster includes seven veterans from last summer’s FIFA World Cup roster, including team captain Clint Dempsey, Jermaine Jones and Michael Bradley. At the other end of the spectrum, it features many fresh faces with 14 players looking to earn their first cap for the Senior Team. Furthermore, the camp roster has 12 Olympic-age players who would be eligible to represent the USA at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
“The prize in 2015 for the senior National Team is the Gold Cup, and this camp will give a lot of our players a chance to kick start their preparations for an important year,” Klinsmann said. “We also get an opportunity to introduce the next wave of young players into the program, and in particular work with many of our Olympic-age guys as they build toward qualifying for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.”
The camp culminates with a friendly against Panama on Feb. 8 in Carson. Kickoff at the StubHub Center is set for 1 p.m. PT, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN, UniMas and Univision Deportes Network. Fans can also follow the match live on Twitter @ussoccer and @ussoccer_esp.
More than 10,000 tickets have been sold for the USA’s first home game in the new year. Fans can purchase tickets through ussoccer.com, by calling 1-888-929-7849, and at the StubHub Center ticket office (open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT).
Groups of 20 or more can obtain an order form at ussoccer.com or call 312-528-1290. Ultimate Fan Tickets (special VIP packages that include a premium ticket, a custom-made official U.S. National Team jersey with name and number, VIP access to the field before and after the game, and other unique benefits) are also available exclusively through ussoccer.com.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (4): Alex Bono (unattached), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Jon Kempin (Sporting Kansas City), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Christian Dean (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Perry Kitchen (D.C. United), Shane O’Neill (Colorado Rapids), Oscar Sorto (LA Galaxy)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mix Diskerud (out of contract), Dennis Flores (Club Leon), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), Miguel Ibarra (Minnesota United FC), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution), Marc Pelosi (Liverpool), Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids), Brek Shea (Orlando City SC), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC)
FORWARDS (6): Tesho Akindele (FC Dallas), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Julio Morales (Tepic), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
