Eighteen-year-old Christian Pulisic (white jersey) has three goals in eight games for the USA. (Photo: Victor Straffon/Straffon Images)

CHICAGO – United States head coach Jurgen Klinsmann named a 23-man roster for a training camp in Miami ahead of international friendlies against host Cuba in Havana on October 7 and visiting New Zealand in Washington, D.C. four days later. 

The squad is highlighted by a contingent of six players with clubs in the German Bundesliga, including 18-year-old midfielder Christian Pulisic, who has scored one goal in four games for Borussia Dortmund.  Additionally, he has appeared in both of BVB’s UEFA Champions League matches.

Also meriting selection was New York Red Bulls midfielder Sacha Kljestan.  The 31-year-old midfielder has scored in the USA’s last two World Cup qualifiers, leads MLS in assists with 17 (four more than his nearest rival) and has a team-high two goals in the 2016/17 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League. 

"These two games are very important for us because it's the last time we can see certain players before making the decision on the 23 going in to represent us for the Mexico and Costa Rica clashes (in World Cup Qualifying)," said Klinsmann. "There's a lot at stake for the players to make their case, to show where they are right now.  The bigger picture behind this is definitely Mexico and Costa Rica, and these two games will show us a lot about individual players." 

The USA will open the final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup against Mexico (November 11, home) and Costa Rica (November 15, away). 

ROSTER 

GOALKEEPERS: David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Ethan Horvath (Molde/Norway), William Yarbrough (Leon/Mexico)

DEFENDERS: Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin/Germany), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/England), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt/Germany), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/Mexico), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Moenchengladbach/Germany), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United/England)

MIDFIELDERS: Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana/Mexico), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/Canada), Lynden Gooch (Sunderland/England), Perry Kitchen (Hearts/Scotland), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund/Germany), Danny Williams (Reading/England)

FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/Canada), Julian Green (Bayern Munich/Germany), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (Hamburg/Germany)