US men's national team calls in senior team, U-23 roster for January 2021 camp

UPDATE (Jan. 20): Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris has been given permission by Gregg Berhalter to leave the USMNT camp in Florida, US Soccer announced Wednesday. The federation also announced that NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson has departed the camp after picking up a minor knee injury. No additional players are being added to the roster.

UPDATE (Jan. 19): LA Galaxy right back Julian Araujo has been added to the US U-23 roster in place of FC Dallas' Bryan Reynolds, who has departed the camp for personal reasons, US Soccer announced Tuesday.

📰: Defender @julian__araujo has been added to the U-23 #USMNT #JanuaryCamp roster.

Additionally, defender Bryan Reynolds will be departing camp for personal reasons.

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) January 19, 2021

UPDATE (Jan. 11): New York Red Bulls defender Kyle Duncan has been added to the US U-23 roster for their January training camp, US Soccer announced Monday.

US Soccer also confirmed that a U-23 player has tested positive for COVID-19 upon arriving at camp. The player is in isolation and observing the appropriate quarantine protocols. No other members of the delegation have tested positive at this time. Per protocol, U.S. Soccer is conducting contact tracing for any high-risk contacts.

UPDATE (Jan. 9): Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Matt Freese and D.C. United center back Donovan Pines have both added to the U-23 roster, respectively replacing Real Salt Lake goalkeeper David Ochoa and LA Galaxy right back Julian Araujo. Ochoa suffered a right quad injury before arriving in camp, while Araujo withdrew from the roster due to illness. 

ORIGINAL (Jan. 6): Ahead of a busy 2021 for the US men’s national team, head coach Gregg Berhalter has called in 12 players for a camp at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., that’ll begin Jan. 9. Those dozen are all aged 24 or older and will train alongside the Tokyo Olympics-focused US Under-23 national team before a match against a still to be named opponent at the end of the month.

Of the 38 players total, 36 total come from Major League Soccer teams. The only two exceptions, midfielder Bryang Kayo and outside back Chris Gloster, have MLS academy roots at D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls, respectively. They're part of the 26-player U-23 side that head coach Jason Kreis called in.

“This is an important year for our national team programs, and we are looking to maximize every possible opportunity,” Berhalter said in a release. “For the senior team players, this is an opportunity to continue to develop as a group and build on the foundation of a busy and challenging year. Being alongside our U-23 team gives that group a chance to prepare for Olympic qualifying while further integrating into our culture and game model.”

It’s the first time that the U-23s have been together since March 2020, when Concacaf Olympic qualifiers were postponed as the COVID-19 pandemic first began. That tournament is expected to be conducted this March, making this the last time the U-23s will congregate.

“With Olympic qualifying approaching quickly, this training camp is a great opportunity to prepare ourselves and evaluate some new faces,” Kreis said in a release. “While 2020 was a very challenging year, it was impressive to see so many U-23-eligible players make major strides on the field. Some of them have been involved with the senior team over the last few months and it’s exciting to now get our players and staff back together in camp alongside Gregg and his group as we prepare for a very important qualifying tournament.”

The end-of-January match will include several U-23 players who are elevated to the USMNT. An opponent has not yet been named.

USMNT roster for January 2021 camp

The USMNT roster, which can be found below, includes players ranging from veteran forward Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC) to defender Tristan Blackmon (LAFC), who’s in his first camp. Columbus Crew SC forward Gyasi Zardes, per a U.S. Soccer spokesperson, underwent a minor medical procedure this offseason and won't be fit enough for camp.

U-23 roster for January 2021 camp

The U-23 roster includes eight players who have earned USMNT caps. Three MLS clubs – FC Dallas, Orlando City SC and the San Jose Earthquakes – each have three players in camp, while Orlando midfielder Andres Perea isn’t yet eligible to play for the US after playing for Colombia at two youth World Cups. A one-time FIFA switch of association would make Perea eligible, however.

Players born on or after Jan. 1, 1997 are eligible for the final Olympic roster.