US to host Costa Rica in Feb. 1 exhibition in California
CHICAGO (AP) - The U.S. men's soccer team will open its 2020 schedule with an exhibition against Costa Rica on Feb. 1 at Carson, California, after training in Qatar with a roster that includes 12 players who could make their debuts.
All but three of the players are from Major League Soccer, the U.S. Soccer Federation said Tuesday.
The U.S. will train at the Aspire Academy in Doha from Jan. 5-25. Qatar will host the World Cup in 2022.
After training at Carson each winter from 2004-18, the U.S. last year moved its January camp 120 miles south to Chula Vista, near San Diego.
In 2014, the U.S. trained in Carson for a week, shifted to Sao Paulo for two weeks ahead of the World Cup later that year in Brazil, then returned to Carson for a week before an exhibition against South Korea.
Players who could makes debuts include goalkeepers JT Marcinkowski and Matt Turner; defenders Julian Araujo, Chase Gasper, Justen Glad, Mark McKenzie and Sam Vines; midfielders Brenden Aaronson, Christian Cappis and Bryang Kayo; and forwards Jesus Ferreira and Ulysses Llanez. The roster averages 23 years, 83 days, and eight international appearances.
Aaronson. Gasper, Glad, Marcinkowski, McKenzie and Turner have trained with the senior team previously without appearing in a match.
Among the MLS veterans not on the roster are Toronto midfielder Michael Bradley and forward Jozy Altidore, Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan, Columbus midfielder Wil Trapp, San Jose defender Nick Lima and Montreal defender Daniel Lovitz.
The only players not from MLS teams are the 20-year-old Cappis, who is with Denmark's Hobro; the 18-year-old Llanez, a member of Wolfsburg's under-19 team in Germany; and the 17-year-old Kayo, who is not with a club
The U.S. is preparing for a CONCACAF Nations League semifinal against Honduras in June and the start of World Cup qualifying in September. With its full player pool, the Americans have a March 26 exhibition at the Netherlands, the start of a two-match Europe trip.
The roster:
Goakeepers: Sean Johnson (New York City), Bill Hamid (D.C.), JT Marcinkowski (San Jose), Matt Turner (New England)
Defenders: Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy), Reggie Cannon (Dallas), Chase Gasper (Minnesota), Justen Glad (Salt Lake), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia), Sam Vines (Colorado), Walker Zimmerman (Los Angeles)
Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Philadelphia), Christian Cappis (Hobro, Denmark), Bryang Kayo (no club), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Paxton Pomykal (Dallas), Cristian Roldan (Seattle), Jackson Yueill (San Jose)
Forwards: Paul Arriola (D.C.), Jesus Ferreira (Dallas), Jonathan Lewis (Colorado), Ulysses Llanez (Wolfsburg, Germany), Jordan Morris (Seattle), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus)
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