Real Salt Lake FW Corey Baird has been named to the U.S. National Team’s preliminary 2019 Gold Cup roster by Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. Baird is one of 78 MLS players to be named to preliminary squads with the USMNT leading the way with 24 MLS players on their squad.
The preliminary rosters will serve as the basis for the final 23-man Gold Cup roster for each participating country. Those final squads are due in the first week of June.
The 2019 Gold Cup kicks off on June 15 when Canada face Martinique before Mexico play Cuba. The USMNT play their first match on June 18, against Guyana.
Baird, 22, is in his second year with Real Salt Lake after signing prior to the 2018 season. A product of Real Salt Lake’s Academy, he has one goal and two assists in eleven matches this season for RSL (5-6-1, 16 points) after leading all rookies in scoring with eight goals, adding five assists in his 2018 MLS AT&T Rookie of the Year campaign.
Baird joined the U.S. National Team for his second senior call-up in March and played against Chile at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston after notching an assist in two starts during January camp this year. The Escondido, California, native appeared for the U.S. U-17, U-18, U-20 and U-23 National Teams and prior to signing with Real Salt Lake was a three-time NCAA National Champion at Stanford University.
Baird and Real Salt Lake return to action on Friday, May 24 when it hosts Atlanta United FC at Rio Tinto Stadium at 7:00p MT. Fans can purchase tickets to the match at RSL.com or by calling 844.REAL.TIX.
