USMNT Unveils MLS-Heavy Roster Ahead of Mexico Friendly

Consider the upcoming U.S.-Mexico game in Glendale, Ariz. as sort of a dress rehearsal. The April 19 meeting between the old rivals is an ad hoc friendly scheduled outside a FIFA international window, meaning player releases aren’t compulsory and training time will be limited to a day or two. Fans will buy tickets because they always do, but there will be nothing at stake inside the Arizona Cardinals’ State Farm Stadium.

There are considerable stakes around the corner, however. The U.S. and Mexico will meet again June 15 in Las Vegas in a Concacaf Nations League semifinal (the final and bronze medal games are three days later). The Gold Cup—the regional championship tournament—then kicks off June 24. Those games matter. And thanks to the compressed schedule, U.S. coach Anthony Hudson is likely going to be relying on a broad swath of the American player pool as the men based in Europe enter their offseasons and the Gold Cup continues into mid-July.

So the 23-man team unveiled Wednesday is about more than next week’s friendly. It’s an indication of who Hudson and his staff might be relying on this summer to contribute to the defense of the Nations League and Gold Cup titles. The U.S. could’ve gone young and experimental in Glendale. But Hudson’s team features 10 World Cup veterans and only three players—defenders Caleb Wiley and Joshua Wynder and goalkeeper Drake Callender—making their first appearance on a senior roster.

The Glendale game also will represent a chance for relative newcomers and potential U.S. regulars like FC Cincinnati striker Brandon Vazquez, San Jose Earthquakes forward Cade Cowell and Columbus Crew midfielder Aidan Morris to get a taste of the rivalry before this summer. Wynder, Cowell, Morris and Wiley will be Olympic eligible (U-23) in 2024.

“Anytime you get to play against your closest rivals it’s a special opportunity, and we have players who understand what this rivalry is all about and are ready to compete,” Hudson said. “It’s another chance to build on the progress we have made in the last four years and prepare for the defense of our two Concacaf titles this summer.”

All but two of the 23 hail from MLS. The lone European player is defender Sergiño Dest, who played well at the World Cup but whose fortunes dipped after returning to AC Milan. Heading into Wednesday’s Champions League quarterfinal against Napoli, Dest hadn’t played for the Rossoneri since a 4–0 Serie A loss to Lazio on Jan. 24. Milan agreed to release him for next week’s match.

Among the other notable inclusions are Wynder, the 17-year-old Louisville City center back who’s the first USL Championship player called up since late 2021, and Seattle Sounders veteran Jordan Morris, who leads MLS with eight goals in seven games.

Here’s the full U.S. squad:

Goalkeepers

Drake Callender (Inter Miami), Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC)  

Defenders

Sergiño Dest (AC Milan), Aaron Long (Los Angeles FC), Julian Gressel (Vancouver Whitecaps), Matt Miazga (FC Cincinnati), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United), Joshua Wynder (Louisville City), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)  

Midfielders

Kellyn Acosta (Los Angeles FC), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), James Sands (New York City FC), Alan Soñora (FC Juárez), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes)  

Forwards

Paul Arriola (FC Dallas), Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders), Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati)