David Bingham, Steve Birnbaum and Ethan Finlay must have left some impression during January camp after US national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann included the young trio in his 26-man roster that will face Guatemala in two crucial CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers beginning next week.
They form part of a 13-player MLS contingent, joining an established US squad that includes 15 players who were part of the 2014 World Cup team. Of the 13 forwards and midfielders called up by Klinsmann, 10 are MLS players, including Jozy Altidore, Darlington Nagbe and Chris Wondolowski, who has three goals in the first three games of the MLS season. Clint Dempsey makes his return after missing out on the first two qualifiers last fall.
Bingham will have a tough road to getting into the gameday lineup. He is joined on the roster by three other goalkeepers, including Brad Guzan, William Yarbrough, and Tim Howard, who announced on Sunday that he will join the Colorado Rapids.
“The reason why we brought in a little bit of a bigger roster is because of the fact that it is the last time before we decide on the roster for the Copa America,” Klinsmann said in a US Soccer Q&A. “We want to have the opportunity to see a couple more players. For example, we brought in four goalkeepers because we want to see where David Bingham is right now ... On the roster sheet there can only be 23, but it’s definitely worth it for us to get a close look at a couple of players that we think of in terms of Copa America as well.”
Camp opens in Miami on Monday as the USA prepare to travel to face Guatemala on Friday, March 25 in Guatemala City (10 pm ET on beIN Sport and NBC Universo), before welcoming Los Chapines at MAPFRE Stadium on Tuesday, March 29 (7 pm ET on ESPN2, UniMas and Univision Deportes). Only 23 players are permitted to dress for the matches.
The US national team is undefeated all-time in World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala (7-0-5) and they're also undefeated in World Cup qualifiers hosted at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus (7-0-3).
USMNT ROSTER vs. GUATEMALA
GOALKEEPERS (4):David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/ENG), Tim Howard (Everton FC/ENG), William Yarbrough (Club Leon/MEX)
DEFENDERS (9): Ventura Alvarado (Club America/MEX), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin/GER), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG), Edgar Castillo (Monterrey/MEX), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana/MEX), DeAndre Yedlin (Sunderland/ENG)
MIDFIELDERS (8):Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes FC/FRA), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew SC), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach/GER), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers FC), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution)
FORWARDS (5):Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (Union Berlin/GER), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
