Callaghan Selects 24-Player BioSteel USMNT Training Camp Roster Ahead Of Concacaf Nations League Title Defense

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

Already this year a number of pieces have been added into the mix, as four players on this roster have made their USMNT debuts during 2023. Taylor Booth and Auston Trusty took their first bows on March 24 at Grenada, and Alan Soñora and Alex Zendejas earned their first appearances on Jan. 25 vs. Serbia. In addition, Johnny Cardoso became officially “cap-tied” to the United States when the Brazilian-American appeared against Grenada in March in Nations League group play.

The most recent addition to the USMNT brotherhood on this roster is Folarin Balogun, the multinational player who recently committed to representing the United States ahead of England and Nigeria. Balogun, who became the first U.S. international to score 20+ goals during one season in a top-flight European league with Stade Reims in France, was approved for a one-time change of association after having represented in England in official competition at the youth international level. The 21-year-old could make his international debut in the semifinal against Mexico.

ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR

The U.S. Men’s National Team secured a return to the Concacaf Nations League Final Four finishing atop Group D with 10 points ahead of El Salvador and Grenada.

The USMNT opened group play with a 5-0 rout of Grenada in front of a sold-out crowd of 20,500 at Q2 Stadium on June 10, 2022, in Austin, Texas. The four goals scored by Jesús Ferreira led a USMNT record for most in a game, the fifth time the mark has been achieved and the first since Landon Donovan scored four against Cuba in 2003.

Four days later, the United States came from behind to tie El Salvador 1-1 on a rain-soaked, mud-patched Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador. After El Salvador’s Alexander Larin put the home side up 10 minutes before the half, second half substitutes Luca de la Torre and Jordan Morris combined to bring the USA level in second half stoppage time, with Morris heading in de la Torre’s cross for the tying goal.

The return leg in Grenada proved to be more prolific for U.S. goal scorers, the 7-1 win on March 24 at Kirani James Stadium setting the team record for most goals in a road match. Weston McKennie and Ricardo Pepi each scored twice, while Christian Pulisic was involved in five goals, including scoring one of his own. Brenden Aaronson and Alex Zendejas also tallied.

The U.S. Men’s National Team secured a return to the Concacaf Nations League Final Four with a 1-0 win against El Salvador on March 27 in Orlando, Fla. Ricardo Pepi’s third goal in two games – which came two minutes after he entered the match in the second half – was the difference as the USA finished atop Group D with 10 points.

NEXT UP – GOLD CUP

The USMNT jumps from one title defense to the next as they head to Chicago on June 19 to begin the short preparation window for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup. The U.S. begins its quest for a record-tying eighth confederation championship as part of Group A in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup along with Jamaica, Nicaragua, and a team that will be determined through the 2023 Gold Cup Prelims. The Gold Cup will take place from June 24-July 16 in venues across North America.

Utilizing an almost entirely different squad from the Nations League-winning team, the USMNT was crowned champion of the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup after defeating Mexico 1-0 in extra time on Miles Robinson’s 117th-minute header before a sold-out crowd of 61,514 fans at Allegiant Stadium.

ROSTER NOTES

• The training camp roster will average 24 years, 216 days as of the first day of training on June 4.
• The squad averages 17 caps overall and 11 in official competition.
• The roster is made up of 13 players that were part of the USMNT side at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
• A little more than seven years since making his USMNT debut at age 17, Christian Pulisic is the leading cap-winner on the roster with 58 appearances. He’s followed by Weston McKennie (43), Walker Zimmerman (40), Antonee Robinson (34) and Brenden Aaronson (30).
• Players represent clubs in 10 different countries: England (7), USA (3), France (2), Germany (2), Mexico (2), Netherlands (2), Spain (2), Brazil (1), Canada (1), Israel (1) and Italy (1).
• Eight players were part of the roster that claimed the inaugural 2021 Concacaf Nations League title in Denver: Brenden Aaronson, Sergiño Dest, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Antonee Robinson and Tim Weah.
• All three goal scorers from the 2021 CNL Final win against Mexico are on the roster. Gio Reyna put home a first-half equalizer, Weston McKennie’s late header sent the match to extra time, and Christian Pulisic scored what would stand as the game-winning goal, beating Guillermo Ochoa from the penalty spot.
• The sole player to appear in each of the USA’s 10 all-time Concacaf Nations League matches, Weston McKennie has registered a team-leading six goals to go along with three assists overall in the competition.
• After having his one-time change of association request granted by FIFA earlier this month, striker Folarin Balogun looks to make his USMNT debut during this month’s CNL matches.
• Balogun, who became the first U.S. international to score 20+ goals during on season in a top-flight European league, is joined by goalkeepers Drake Callender and Josh Cohen as the three uncapped players on the training camp roster.
• Mexican-American striker Ricardo Pepi also had a strong individual season with Groningen, registering 13 goals and three assists 33 matches across all competitions for the Eredivisie side.
• Full back Antonee Robinson made 35 appearances for Fulham FC, helping the side to a club record 15 Premier League wins this season. 
• Center back Chris Richards will seek his first USMNT cap since Jan. 30, 2022, at Canada.
• Four players have made their USMNT debuts during 2023. Taylor Booth and Auston Trusty took their first bows on March 24 at Grenada, and Alan Soñora and Alex Zendejas earned their first appearances on Jan. 25 vs. Serbia.
• With 23 international goals to his name, Christian Pulisic’s next goal will move him into a tie with Joe-Max Moore for sixth on the USMNT’s all-time scoring list.
• Should he play in the June 15 semifinal against Mexico, Alex Zendejas would become the third Mexican-born player to feature for the USMNT against El Tri, joining Martin Vasquez and William Yarbrough.  
• After finishing second in the Liga MX Clausura, Zendejas and Club América reached the semifinal of the “Liguilla” playoffs.