US Soccer Releases MLS Heavy Roster for Mexico Friendly

With the World Cup quickly approaching, time is running out for some bubble players to stake their claim for a roster spot. The roster for the final USMNT match before World Cup preparation was released today, and included 19 MLS players.

Some notables among the roster include Seattle right back DeAndre Yedlin, Philadelphia midfielder Maurice Edu, and San Jose forward Chris Wondolowski. Yedlin has had a great start to the MLS season for the Sounders, and is making a very late claim to be included in the Brazil roster. The 20 year old defender earned his first senior call in February for the South Korea match, and in a RB pool that’s even thinner now, with the retirement of Steve Cherundolo, he could move into a final spot on the roster. Maurice Edu earned his first call into the squad since the Mexico draw last March in the Azteca. Since being loaned to Philadelphia from Stoke, Edu has garnered the attention of Jurgen Klinsmann and his staff, and is now in the running for a final roster spot.

Now we come to arguably the most underrated forward in the USMNT pool, Chris Wondolowski. Wondo scored the only two goals of the match against South Korea in February, and if he continues to score for the US (like he did in the Gold Cup), he could leapfrog Eddie Johnson for a spot on the roster.  Bayern Munich winger, and German-American Julian Green has finally committed to play for the US; much to the delight of many USA fans. He can earn his first cap on Wednesday, and what a way to do it, against the “arch-rival” El Tri. Green will have to outplay many of the best in MLS for a spot on the World Cup roster; which is not impossible given his talent level, but the international game is a totally different animal.

Players by position:

Goalkeepers: Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire); Bill Hamid (DC United); Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

Defenders: DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders); DaMarcus Beasley (Peubla); Matt Besler (Sporting KC); Brad Evans (Seattle); Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy); Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes); Michael Orozco (Puebla); Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew)

Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Salt Lake); Michael Bradley (Toronto FC); Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo); Landon Donovan (LA); Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union, on loan from Stoke City); Luis Gil (Salt Lake); Graham Zusi (KC)

Forwards: Clint Dempsey (Seattle); Julian Green (Bayern Munich); Eddie Johnson (DC United); Chris Wondolowski (San Jose)

The match will take place next Wednesday (April 2), from University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, and will be broadcast on ESPN2 beginning at 11:00 pm ET.