FRISCO - A new year always brings new opportunities and for three FC Dallas players, 2017 brings the opportunity to forge ahead with the US Men’s National Team.
New USMNT coach Bruce Arena has called up the FCD trio of Kellyn Acosta, Matt Hedges and Walker Zimmerman to his first January camp as he returns to the top job in the United States. The January camp will convene in California on January 10th with matches against Serbia on January 29th in San Diego and Jamaica on February 4th in Chattanooga.
“I’m very excited. It’s going to be a little bit of a fresh start with a new coaching staff so I have to go out there and prove that I belong,” said Homegrown midfielder Kellyn Acosta. “It’s really exciting and I’m ready to represent myself and FC Dallas and hopefully I earn a spot for the upcoming [World Cup] qualifiers.”
For 2016 MLS Defender of the Year Matt Hedges, the new coach brings an opportunity for a USMNT breakthrough. Despite having been named to the MLS Best XI for two straight seasons, the Indiana-native has just one appearance for the national team. For Zimmerman, it's a first-ever call up to the full national team while Acosta returns with four national team appearances to his name.
“I’m really excited to get a new opportunity with a new coach and it’s like a fresh start,” said Hedges. “It’s an opportunity to try to win a spot and stick with the team.”
While the intensity of the camp in the past has been questioned, the importance of this year’s is undeniable with crucial World Cup Qualifiers on the horizon in March as well as another CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer.
“[Earning a Gold Cup roster spot] is a big goal for me. I want to be involved in every competition in the national team and being in the Gold Cup would be a dream,” said Acosta. “This upcoming camp is my chance to prove something and if I do well here then that translates into qualifiers and then on to Gold Cup. I’m just focused on this camp and doing well here and hopefully everything falls into place.”
Zimmerman heads to camp straight off getting married on New Year’s Eve while Acosta & Hedges have been training on the side in preparation for the camp and the chance to impress a new coach.
“[Bruce Arena] is a great coach. Playing against him, his record and all his trophies say it all,” said Acosta. “He’s a winning coach with a lot of titles and it’s always been difficult to play against his teams. I’m excited to learn whatever I can from him to take my game to the next level.”