SECAUCUS, NJ - MetroStars goalkeeper Jonny Walker was added to the U.S. National Team roster by U.S. Men's National Team Manager Bruce Arena for the team's World Cup qualifying match against Grenada on June 13 in Columbus, Ohio. With Walker's arrival comes the departure of Kansas City Wizards Tony Meola, Josh Wolff and Kerry Zavagnin, as well as Colorado Rapids defender Pablo Mastroeni. No other players will be added to the team.
Colorado exercised their right not to release Mastroeni until four days prior to their match against Kansas City on Wednesday, June 9 at 7:30 p.m. MT. FIFA rules regarding player releases for international competition stipulate that a club is only required to release a player four days prior to a date that is scheduled for an official match as designated on the FIFA Coordinated Calendar, if that player is traveling within the same continent. Because of this, Arena decided to remove players from both teams from the training camp.
Walker, 29, earned his first three caps for the senior team earlier this year, posting a 1-0-2 record. After opening with a 1-1 draw against Denmark on Jan. 18 at the Home Depot Center, Walker became the fourth U.S. goalkeeper in history to record a shutout in his first appearance against Mexico with the 1-0 blanking of "El Tri" on April 28 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. Walker was called into the U.S. National Team's recent June 2 friendly against Honduras - a game which the Americans won 4-0. Walker did not play.
Walker will join his MetroStars teammate Eddie Pope on the U.S. Roster.
Kickoff for the June 13 qualifier is set for 1 p.m. ET, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN2. Fans can also follow the match live on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker, presented by Philips Electronics. The U.S. then faces Grenada in the second leg of their second round qualifying series Sunday, June 20 in St. George's, Grenada (ESPN2, 4 p.m. ET).
