Six players without an international cap were named to the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for the Nov. 17 friendly against South Africa in Cape Town.
USMNT Announces Very Young Roster For South Africa Friendly
Among the notable players who could make their debuts are Norway-based Mikkel Diskerud, New York Red Bulls forward Juan Agudelo, Teal Bunbury of the Kansas City Wizards and Miami FC's Gale Agbossoumonde. All four players are no older than 20 and have the ability to play for other countries.
Diskerud was born in Norway but has an American mother and has played on youth national teams for both the U.S. and his native country. Agudelo was born in Colombia, moved to the U.S. as an 8-year-old and has only played for U.S. youth teams. Agbossoumonde was born in Togo and came to the U.S. with his family at age 8.
Bunbury has only played for Canadian youth teams and is the son of a Canadian soccer legend, but recently suggested he was open to playing for the United States.
The roster as a whole is relatively inexperienced on the international level. Jonathan Bornstein is the most experienced, and he's made just 35 national team appearances. Just five players on the 18-man roster were on the most recent World Cup team. Nine other players have five or fewer caps.
The roster is basically split between North American-based players and those in Europe. Ten players are currently on MLS rosters, including three from the Columbus Crew (Robbie Rogers, Brian Carroll and Eddie Gaven) and two from Real Salt Lake (Robbie Findley and Nat Borchers) and the New York Red Bulls (Agudelo and Tim Ream).
U.S. Roster (Currently uncapped players in bold)
GOALKEEPERS
Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, England), Dom Cervi (Celtic, Scotland).
DEFENDERS
Borchers (Real Salt Lake), Eric Lichaj (Aston Villa, England), Clarence Goodson (Start, Norway/Brondby, Denmark), Jonathan Spector (West Ham, England), Bornstein (Chivas USA/Tigres, Mexico), Ream (New York Red Bulls), Agbossoumonde (Miami FC).
MIDFIELDERS
Carroll (Columbus Crew), Rogers (Crew), Gaven (Crew), Diskerud (Stabaek, Norway), Alejandro Bedoya (Orebro, Sweden), Logan Pause (Chicago).
FORWARDS
Findley (Real Salt Lake), Bunbury (Kansas City Wizards), Agudelo (Red Bulls).
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