It’s that time of year again! An annual fixture on the MNT calendar, “January Camp” has provided a launching point for many an international career.

With the MNT forging ahead, this year’s gathering will continue to set the tone for the first phase of building for the 2022 FIFA World Cup as well as giving those who are summoned a jumpstart on their upcoming league seasons.

Learn more about the MNT’s January Camp. 

THE HISTORY

In the nascent years of Major League Soccer, the league’s regular season schedule was much shorter, leaving the MNT’s domestic player pool with less opportunity to be prepared for games on the international calendar in the early part of the year. While the length of the domestic season has grown in the intervening years, January Camp has remained a fixture on the MNT calendar, serving as a preparatory exercise for official matches while providing youngsters and newcomers that stood out during the previous year an extended look.

Because the camp takes place outside of a FIFA international window, the full complement of MNT players isn’t available. Nonetheless, there is no shortage of examples of guys who launched successful international careers following a strong showing in January.

• READ MORE: Brooks Lennon Hopes to Spark Long MNT Career in January Camp

The list of players who made the leap is impressive and counts a number of guys who have a World Cup appearance on their resume (in bold): Pablo Mastroeni (2002), Tim Howard (2003), Jonathan Bornstein and Ricardo Clark (2007), Jozy Altidore and Maurice Edu (2008), Sacha Kljestan (2009), Geoff Cameron and Graham Zusi (2012), Matt Besler (2013),  DeAndre Yedlin (2014), Gyasi Zardes (2015), Kellyn Acosta (2016) and Jorge Villafaña (2017).

The January Camp has always played a vital role in giving the regular members of U.S. Men’s National Team domestic player pool a leg up. More so than usual, this edition will provide a rising group of players an extended period to show their promise for the MNT as the program begins the early stages of building for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Most encouragingly, the group is heavily populated with youth national team experience. Twelve players have been included on the final U.S. roster at a FIFA Youth World Cup, including recent U-20 MNT graduates Danny Acosta, Tyler Adams, Justen Glad and Brooks Lennon, who were part of the team that reached the quarterfinal of the 2017 U-20 World Cup.

• READ MORE: Sarachan Discusses January Camp Roster 

On the other end of the spectrum, Gyasi Zardes (37 caps) is the most seasoned player at the international level, followed by Juan Agudelo (27), Jordan Morris (24) and Paul Arriola (15).

Adding to the veteran component of the roster is reigning MLS Defender of the Year Ike Opara at 28-years-old, along with Best XI selection and Toronto FC treble-winner Justin Morrow, who is 30.

Check out the full 30-man roster below:

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; Caps/Goals)

GOALKEEPERS (4): Alex Bono (Toronto FC/CAN; 0/0), Bill Hamid (Midtjylland/DEN; 4/0), Cody Cropper (New England Revolution; 0/0), Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew SC; 0/0)

DEFENDERS (9): Danny Acosta (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Justin Morrow (Toronto FC/CAN; 3/0), Ike Opara (Sporting Kansas City; 0/0), Tim Parker (Vancouver Whitecaps FC/CAN; 0/0), Matt Polster (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Brandon Vincent (Chicago Fire; 1/0), Walker Zimmerman (Los Angeles Football Club; 1/0)

MIDFIELDERS (11): Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls; 1/0), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 15/2), Russell Canouse (D.C. United; 0/0), Marky Delgado (Toronto FC/CAN; 0/0), Marlon Hairston (Colorado Rapids; 0/0), Ian Harkes (D.C. United; 0/0), Brooks Lennon (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 1/0), Kelyn Rowe (New England Revolution; 3/1), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 2/0), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy; 37/6)

FORWARDS (6): Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution; 27/3), Dom Dwyer (Orlando City SC; 4/2), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC; 24/5), Christian Ramirez (Minnesota United FC; 0/0), Rubio Rubin (Unattached; 4/0), CJ Sapong (Philadelphia Union; 3/0)

Camp convenes Jan. 10 at the National Training Center in Carson, California. The MNT will conduct training sessions there as well as take part in multiple scrimmages leading up to its 2018 kickoff fixture against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Jan. 28 at StubHub Center (9:30 p.m. ET; FS1, UniMas & UDN). 

Tickets for the MNT's first match of 2018 are available here. 

As he puts it, calendar year 2017 represented an “unbelievable” step in the unfolding career of Brooks Lennon.

It was one in which the speedy attacker the led the U-20 MNT with six goals while helping the side to its first CONCACAF Championship crown and a quarterfinal run at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

On the club side, following two years working in the development setup at English Premier League side Liverpool, the Real Salt Lake Academy product got his first professional minutes when he returned to RSL on a season-long loan, helping the club in a late run that came up just short of a postseason berth.

“Coming back to RSL from qualifying and the World Cup, obviously I had a lot of confidence. I was playing a lot of soccer, and so I was ready to contribute right away. I never looked back from there,” he told ussoccer.com this week.

The 20-year-old Paradise Valley, Ariz., native will hope to continue that trajectory when he joins the U.S. Men’s National Team for its annual January Camp. Upon his arrival at the National Training Center in Carson, Calif., he’ll look to utilize the gathering to add his name to the long, extensive list of U.S. players that took the next international step with a quality showing in the early part of the year.

• READ MORE: Learn More About Brooks Lennon

And as the MNT forges ahead without a trip to the World Cup on the horizon this June, Lennon also sees it as a chance for he and his generation to begin the work to get the U.S. back to the World Cup in 2022.

“The youth that is coming through makes me really excited. It’s tough to see us not qualify, but I think I’m a next generation contributor and we have a lot of guys that are so talented coming through the ranks and playing a lot for their club teams here and abroad. I definitely think it’s time for my generation to step up to the challenge and make our case with the men’s team.”

In terms of the development pipeline, Lennon is right. The January Camp roster features 12 players who have represented the U.S. at a youth World Cup, and Lennon, along with RSL teammates Justen Glad, Danny Acosta and 18-year-old Tyler Adams, is one of four who were part of the U.S. squad at last year’s U-20 tournament in Korea Republic. Recording two goals and three assists during the five matches, Lennon was among the most crucial contributors on a team that took eventual runners-up Venezuela to extra time before falling 2-1 in the quarterfinal.

While that team came up short, Lennon says the experience showed the young group of players that they are right on par with the world’s best.

“Obviously our team was very talented and we were so honed in and ready for the tournament. When we got there, we knew we could play with any country. We showed that. We were going toe-to-toe with Venezuela, who made it to the final, and we were with them the whole game. The level of play is unbelievable and we’re growing. We already feel good about what we’ve accomplished, but know there is much more out there for us.”

Lennon is not only representative of the Youth National Team pipeline to the MNT, but also the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, having come through the ranks of Real Salt Lake’s residency program in Arizona before signing with Liverpool in 2015.

Moving to Merseyside at just 16, Lennon advanced from the U-16 to U-18 and eventually the U-23 side. He credited the overall experience with making him a better player, but knew his desire for first-team minutes wouldn’t come as quickly as he would have liked at Anfield, which opened the door for his season-long loan back to Real Salt Lake.

“I needed more experience with older guys and playing first-team football. I needed to be in and around the locker room with older guys. Although the level at Liverpool was still really good, I just needed more professional experience.”

Though he missed part of the season away with the U.S. at the World Cup, Lennon delivered solid returns, adding three goals and four assists in 25 matches as RSL came up just short on the postseason. As both parties were happy with his output, Lennon inked a deal to come home on a full-time basis with hopes that it’s the start of making him a long-time member of the club, similar to teammates and MNT veterans Nick Rimando and Kyle Beckerman.

“Those are two guys I really look up to at RSL and with the U.S.,” Lennon said. “They’ve both been to a World Cup, they won MLS Cup, and that’s what I’m aspiring to and what I dream of. That’s something I want to do, it’s one of my goals. Those guys have done it. I always try and pick their brains and get little things here and there that I can improve and work on.”

Lennon is one of 10 players coming to Carson who will experience MNT camp for the first time. He’s one of 15 who hopes to earn their first cap when the U.S. takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina on Jan. 28 at StubHub Center [9:30 p.m. ET | FS1 and UniMas].

• GALLERY: Meet the 10 Newbies at 2018 January Camp

But before the thought of a senior team debut creeps too far in, he recognizes the need to get down to work as he takes his first opportunity.

“I’m just excited to meet everyone, see all the guys and meet the coaching staff. Beyond that, I just want to get out there again and start playing. That’s what we’re going for. I know there’s a lot to look forward to and it’s a long camp, but I’m itching to get out on the field and obviously play with these guys and show everyone what I’ve got. The rest will take care of itself.”