Defender Matt Miazga, who appeared in 30 regular season and playoff games for the New York Red Bulls during the 2015 MLS season, was called up for the USA's January 2016 training camp. (Photo: FIFA via Getty Images)
CHICAGO – United States head coach Jurgen Klinsmann has called in an initial group of 23 players for the team’s first training camp of 2016, U.S. Soccer announced Wednesday.
The squad will convene January 11-February 6, with the possibility others being invited to the Carson, California, location ahead of friendlies against Iceland (January 31) and Canada (February 5) at the StubHub Center.
"We start out our year with a January camp where we give the opportunity to the next wave of players to come in and make an impression and see if they are ready to step it up into international level, if they are ready to understand what it takes to become a National Team player," said Klinsmann. "This camp will be a little bit different because we're going to mix it almost half-and-half with senior players that are already National Team players or some that are older and maybe get the chance to play their first cap, and a lot of the Under-23 players that hopefully qualify us for Rio de Janeiro.”
The roster is highlighted by five veterans from the 2014 FIFA World Cup roster, led by U.S. captain and 2015 U.S .Soccer Male Player of the Year Michael Bradley. He is joined by Jozy Altidore, Matt Besler, Mix Diskerud and Jermaine Jones.
Nearly half of the participants (11 players) are age-eligible for the under-23 national team that will compete in an Olympic-qualifying playoff against Colombia in March. Among that group is New York Red Bulls defender Matt Miazga, the 2015 U.S. Soccer Young Male Player of the Year. The 20-year-old made his full international debut on November 13, 2015, in a 6-1 World Cup Qualifying win over St. Vincent & The Grenadines.
Also meriting selection is forward Jerome Kiesewetter, who won the Golden Boot award at the 2015 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship with four goals and two assists.
UNITED STATES ROSTER
(Training camp: January 11-February 6, 2016)
GOALKEEPERS: Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)
DEFENDERS: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls), Eric Miller (Impact de Montreal/Canada), Tim Parker (Vancouver Whitecaps FC/Canada)
MIDFIELDERS: Fatai Alashe (San Jose Earthquakes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew SC), Jermaine Jones (no club), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution), Marc Pelosi (San Jose Earthquakes), Matt Polster (Chicago Fire), Tony Tchani (Columbus Crew SC), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC)
FORWARDS: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Jerome Kiesewetter (VfB Stuttgart/Germany), Jordan Morris (no club), Khiry Shelton (New York City FC), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
