SANDY, Utah (Sunday, August 28, 2016) – Real Salt Lake MF Kyle Beckerman has been called up by the U.S. National Team for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against St. Vincent and the Grenadines on September 2 (1:30 p.m. MT, beIN SPORT) and Trinidad and Tobago on September 6 (6 p.m. MT, FS1). Beckerman is among 13 MLS players on U.S. Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s 26-man roster for the final two matches of the Semifinal Round.
“It’s always exciting to be a part of it. These are the last qualifying games for the year and we want to finish on a high and qualify for the next round,” Beckerman said. “It’s important for us and we want to get after it right in the first game.”
Beckerman, 34, has six appearances for the U.S. this year, giving him 57 career caps. Four of those six appearances this year came in Copa America, in which the U.S. finished fourth in the tournament.
Thus far this season, Beckerman has 20 starts, giving him 399 appearances in his illustrious MLS career. His next match will make him the first field player in MLS history to reach 400 career regular season matches. On Friday, he surpassed Steve Ralston to become the all-time leader in minutes by a field player. He now has 33,148 career minutes.
“At the end of the day, he’s still the best and that’s why he gets called in. These are meaningful games that they have to get results, so they bring in the best,” Real Salt Lake Head Coach Jeff Cassar said. “Jurgen sees what he’s doing with our club and playing that position and it fits extremely well into how he wants to play with his team.”
The U.S. will first meet St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the road on Friday before returning stateside to Jacksonville, Florida for the second match against Trinidad and Tobago on September 6. In November, 2015, the U.S. romped St. Vincent and the Grenadines 6-1 in St. Louis before playing to a scoreless draw in the second match of the fourth round in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
The U.S. is currently second in the Group C standings with seven points (2-1-1), trailing only Trinidad and Tobago (3-0-1, 10 points). The top two teams in each four-team group advance to the Hexagonal Round starting in November. The U.S. has qualified for the last seven consecutive FIFA World Cups.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Middlesbrough), Ethan Horvath (Molde FC), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids)
DEFENDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), John Brooks (Hertha BSC), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle) MIDFIELDERS (9): Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Caleb Stanko (FC Vaduz), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Rubio Rubin (FC Utrecht), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (Hamburg SV)
