SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake Captain Kyle Beckerman and GK Nick Rimando have been called up to the U.S. Men’s National Team for its Sept. 6 and Sept. 10 World Cup Qualifying matches at Costa Rica and against Mexico.
Beckerman and Rimando will depart for U.S. camp following Real Salt Lake’s Friday home match against the Portland Timbers. The Claret-and-Cobalt duo will return to the team following the USMNT’s Sept. 10 qualifier in Columbus against Mexico and will be available for selection for RSL’s Sept. 13 road match at Seattle Sounders FC. Neither Beckerman nor Rimando will miss a Real Salt Lake match while on international duty.
Both Beckerman and Rimando starred for the U.S. team that won the CONCACAF Gold Cup in July, both starting all but one match in the tournament and Beckerman earning Man of the Match honors in the U.S.’s 1-0 Gold Cup Final win over Panama. Both players were called in to U.S. World Cup Qualifying camps in March and June of this year.
A regular member of U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad selections, Beckerman has 31 career caps with the United States. He’s appeared in eight matches – including seven starts – for the U.S. in 2013, notching two assists for the Stars-and-Stripes this calendar year. Beckerman captained the U.S. in its 0-0 draw against Canada on Jan. 29 in Houston and started in central midfield in the team’s first – and only – win over Mexico on Mexican soil on Aug. 15, 2012.
Beckerman has four goals and four assists in 20 regular season games – all starts – for Real Salt Lake this year.
"It's always a big honor to be called to the national team," Beckerman said. "I can't wait to get in with the group and I'm looking forward to contributing in any way that I can."
Rimando has 12 career caps with the U.S senior team. The 34-year-old ‘keeper has six appearances with the USMNT this year, posting a perfect 6-0-0 record, registering two shutouts and allowing just four goals.
Rimando has had a stellar season between the pipes for RSL, leading MLS in goals against average and wins and notching eight clean sheets in 21 regular season appearances.
“It’s an honor to be called up for the next set of very important World Cup Qualifiers,” Rimando said. “I’m excited for this opportunity and I’ll be ready if called upon.”
The U.S. is currently in first-place in the CONCACAF Hexagonal with a 4-1-1 record through six matches. The top three finishers in the 10-game Hexagonal automatically qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, with the fourth-place finisher playing a home-and-home series against New Zealand this November for one spot in the World Cup.
Real Salt Lake will return to MLS action this Friday, when it will host Western Conference foe the Portland Timbers at 8:00 p.m.at Rio Tinto Stadium. Tickets are still available for Friday’s match and can be purchased at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office, online at www.RealSaltLake.com/Tickets or over the phone at 801-727-2700.
