USMNT Assembles Pre-World Cup Camp for MLS-Based Players

 Those  in contention for the trip to Qatar, but whose clubs are outside the play-offs, will come together to maintain qualification for the World Cup.  A small selection of 

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 World Cup hopefuls will begin gathering in Frisco, Texas on Tuesday as the United States officially begins its trip to Qatar for an MLS offseason player "training camp." Coach Gregg Berhalter has nine guys on his original roster, with more possibly on the way based on the outcome of this weekend's two conference playoffs. The camp continues on November 5 until  the MLS Cup Final. The 26-man World Cup roster  will be announced on November 9, with training in Al Rayyan, Qatar starting on November 1

. Nine players are invited to Frisco: Goalkeeper: Gabriel Slonina (Chicago Fire/Chelsea) Defenders: Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC) Midfielders: Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders) Forwards: Paul Arriola (FC Dallas), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders) From left, Long, Zimmerman and Morris are part of the USMNT's pre-World Cup camp, which focused keep MLS-based players fit for Qatar about. Aaron Doster/USA TODAY Sports All but Slonina participated in America's World Cup qualifiers, which ended in late March. The 18-year-old still has a long way to go to make the World Cup squad, but after moving from the Fire to Chelsea, he was invited to train with the American coaches  (Slonina just returned from a short stint in London). The only realistic World Cup contenders yet to make the MLS playoffs are Los Angeles FC midfielder Kellyn Acosta and New York City FC goalkeeper Sean Johnson. Berhalter decided to make the camp somewhat exclusive, excluding those MLS players on the fringes of the U.S. team who don't appear to be on Qatar's roster. Among those left out, who may have had faint World Cup hopes once in qualifying or who missed  a chance  to prove their worth this spring, are Sebastian Lletget (FC Dallas), Gyasi Zardes (Colorado Rapids), Brandon Vazquez (FC). Cincinnati, Eryk Williamson (Portland Timbers), Jeremy Ebobisse (San Jose Earthquakes) and Djordje Mihailovic (CF Montreal/AZ Alkmaar). More football news:

Author: Brian Straus - 2022-10-25 15:00:10

Source: "https://www.si.com/soccer/2022/10/25/usmnt-roster-mls-camp-world-cup-berhalter-squad