Sarachan calls young, MLS-heavy squad for US national team's January camp

Interim head coach Dave Sarachan announced a youthful roster for the US national team’s annual January camp on Monday, continuing the process of renewal as the program turns towards the 2022 World Cup in the wake of the crushing failure to qualify for Russia 2018.

MLS Cup and Supporters’ Shield champions Toronto FC are one of four teams leading the way with three players called from their squad: goalkeeper Alex Bono, defender Justin Morrow and midfielder Marky Delgado. D.C. United are represented by debutantes Russell Canouse and Ian Harkes alongside midfielder Paul Arriola, the New England Revolution send Juan Agudelo, Cody Cropper and Kelyn Rowe while Real Salt Lake boast U-20 World Cup veterans Danny Acosta, Justen Glad (pictured above, at left) and Brooks Lennon.

Twenty-eight of the 30 called hail from Major League Soccer, with 19 of the league’s 23 clubs represented, and 21 of those players are age 24 or younger while 15 are seeking their senior international debut, including Columbus Crew SC goalkeeper and Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs standout Zack Steffen (pictured above, at right).

“We’re excited about our 2018 January Camp roster. It’s all about the future and opportunity,” said Sarachan in a federation release. “We clearly feel that we want to have a look at these players that have the chance to be a part of the national team for a number of years to come. It’s a long journey forward, but this is the first step starting in 2018 for the program and for these players to now get experience at this level.”

It’s the first-ever USMNT camp for 10 of the players called: Acosta, Canouse, Delgado, Glad, Harkes, Lennon, Colorado’s Marlon Hairston, San Jose’s Nick Lima, Sporting KC mainstay Ike Opara and Minnesota United scoring leader Christian Ramirez (pictured above, center).

Former D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid (now with Denmark’s Midtjylland) and Rubio Rubin, the Oregon-born striker currently without a club after his departure from Norwegian side Stabæk, are the only non-MLS players called in.

Though several of their US-eligible players were expected to be in consideration for a USMNT call-up, FC Dallas elected to keep their entire squad in camp ahead of the start of preseason training on Jan. 22. Speaking to MLSsoccer.com, a club spokesperson cited the need to integrate a number of new arrivals into Oscar Pareja's side ahead of their CONCACAF Champions League matchup with Panamanian side Tauro FC next month.

Participating US players will report to the StubHub Center in Carson, California on Wednesday, and the camp will conclude with a friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Jan. 28, also at the StubHub Center (9:30 pm ET | FS1 and UniMas).

US Men's National Team January Camp Roster