Freshly minted Chivas USA striker Juan Agudelo, Houson Dynamo do-it-all defender Geoff Cameron and San Jose Earthquakes striker Chris Wondolowski are among 11 additional players who will join US head coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s 27-man camp for three upcoming international friendlies ahead of World Cup qualifying matches this summer.
LA Galaxy star Landon Donovan was also named to the group on Sunday along with Sporting Kansas City playmaker Graham Zusi, bringing the total of MLS players called into Klinsmann’s camp to seven. Klinsmann named his initial 16 players last week, including the veteran Real Salt Lake pairing of midfielder Kyle Beckerman and goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
The team will train in Orlando, Fla. until May 25, when Klinsmann will select a final 23-man roster for the upcoming five matches. The group then departs for Jacksonville and their first match, May 26 against Scotland (8 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, Galavision).
READ: Klinsmann names first 16 to US camp
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The rest of the list released on Sunday includes many names that were expected, including veteran defender Oguchi Onyewu, striker Jozy Altidore and central defenders Clarence Goodson and Michael Parkhurst.
Herculez Gomez, the former MLS striker who has enjoyed a stunning career in Mexico and most recently helped lift Santos Laguna into both the CONCACAF Champions League final and the Mexican Clausura championship, was also called in for the first time under Klinsmann’s regime.
Young striker Terrence Boyd rounds out the list, earning his second consecutive call after making his USMNT debut in a friendly against Italy in March.
“We are excited now to get towards full numbers with the MLS guys and also the players from Europe who are coming in with great form,” Klinsmann said in a statment. “We want them to pick up the rhythm as fast as possible and make them understand that we are taking the next couple weeks very seriously. We will continue with our rhythm of two trainings a day and see where the players are really at before we make our final decisions on the 23-man roster for the upcoming games.”
Agudelo, Boyd, Cameron, Donovan, Wondolowski and Zusi are all expected to report to US camp on Sunday, while Onyewu, Gomez, Goodson and Altidore will trickle in over the next eight days.
LISTEN: Grant Wahl breaks down first 16 players on ExtraTime Radio
The announcement caps a wild week for Agudelo, who was traded from the New York Red Bulls to Chivas USA on Thursday and debuted with his new team in the Goats’ 1-0 win over Donovan and the rival Galaxy on Saturday night. Agudelo’s selection means he will not play when Chivas USA take on the Red Bulls on Wednesday night at Red Bull Arena.
Cameron, Parkhurst and Zusi all return after strong showings in the January camp, while Wondolowski looks to once again carry his reputation as one of the most prolific scorers in MLS to the international level. The Earthquakes star leads MLS with 11 goals in 12 games this season.
Following the match against Scotland, the US will host five-time World Cup champions Brazil on Wednesday, May 30 at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.
For the last game before the start of World Cup qualifying, the United States will make a rare visit to Canada when it renews the rivalry June 3 at BMO Field in Toronto.
The US will then kick off the effort to qualify for its seventh-consecutive FIFA World Cup when they host Antigua and Barbuda on June 8 at Raymond James Stadium.
UPDATED U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (8): Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Oguchi Onyewu (Sporting Lisbon), Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (7): Juan Agudelo (Chivas USA), Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Santos), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
