FC Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez on preliminary US Gold Cup roster
CHICAGO (AP) — FC Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez, who has played for Mexico's Under-20 and Under-23 teams, is among 40 players on the U.S. preliminary roster for next month's CONCACAF Gold Cup.
If the 22-year-old Gonzalez appears for the U.S. in the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean, he would be tied to the U.S. national team and unable to play for Mexico.
Defenders Matt Miazga of Chelsea and Eric Lichaj of Nottingham Forest also were on the roster announced Saturday night along with Gent midfielder Kenny Saief, who was born in Panama City, Florida, but has played for Israel's youth national teams. Saief also would become tied to the U.S. if he plays in the Gold Cup.
The group includes forwards Juan Agudelo of New England, Dom Dwyer of Kansas City and C.J. Sapong.
U.S. coach Bruce Arena must submit a 23-man roster on June 27 ahead of his team's opener against Panama on July 8. Teams advancing to the knockout stage can change six players, but the pool is limited to those on the 40-man roster.
Several players with the national team for this month's World Cup qualifiers were omitted: goalkeepers Ethan Horvath and Nick Rimando; defenders DaMarcus Beasley, John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Tim Ream and DeAndre Yedlin; midfielders Kellyn Acosta and Fabian Johnson; and forward Bobby Wood. Many of them will be getting ready for pre-seasons with European clubs.
The U.S. has an exhibition against Ghana on July 1 at East Hartford, Connecticut, then plays Panama at Nashville, Tennessee. The Americans also have first-round games against Martinique on July 12 at Tampa, Florida, and versus Nicaragua three days later at Cleveland.
The roster:
Goalkeepers: Joe Bendik (Orlando), Jesse Gonzalez (Dallas), Brad Guzan (Atlanta), Bill Hamid (D.C.), Tim Howard (Colorado), Sean Johnson (New York City)
Defenders: Matt Besler (Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C.), Greg Garza (Atlanta), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca, Mexico), Matt Hedges (Dallas), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest, England), Matt Miazga (Chelsea, England), Justin Morrow (Toronto), Matt Polster (Chicago), Jonathan Spector (Orlando), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna, Mexico), Graham Zusi (Kansas City)
Midfielders: Paul Arriola (Tijuana, Mexico), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia), Michael Bradley (Toronto), Joe Corona (Tijuana, Mexico), Dax McCarty (Chicago), Tommy McNamara (New York City), Darlington Nagbe (Portland), Kellyn Acosta (Dallas), Chris Pontius (Philadelphia), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Cristian Roldan (Seattle), Kelyn Rowe (New England), Kenny Saief (Gent, Belgium), Wil Trapp (Columbus), Gyasi Zardes (LA)
Forwards: Juan Agudelo (New England), Jozy Altidore (Toronto), Clint Dempsey (Seattle), Dom Dwyer (Kansas City), Jordan Morris (Seattle), C.J. Sapong (Philadelphia), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose)
