Portland Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe and New York Red Bulls defender Matt Miazga are among 12 MLS players called in as the U.S. National Team begins the 2018 World Cup qualifying cycle versus St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET at Busch Stadium (ESPN2, UniMás, UDN). This marks the first call ups for both Nagbe and Miazga, two of Major League Soccer’s most promising young stars.
Nagbe, 25, is a Liberian-born midfielder who officially became an U.S. citizen in September. One of the most electrifying and creative talents in MLS, his skill on the ball and versatility are welcome additions to the USMNT’s lineup. Nagbe and his mother fled the First Liberian Civil War when he was just five-months-old before eventually settling in Ohio in 2001. His father, Joe Nagbe, is a former captain of the Liberian National Team. The second overall selection in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft, Nagbe notched five goals and five assists in 33 starts for Portland this season.
Miazga, 20, has the makings of a future fixture along the USMNT’s backline. The 6-foot-4 New Jersey native joined the New York Red Bulls Academy in 2009 before signing a Homegrown Player contract in 2013. After starring for the United States U-18, U-20, and U-23 squads, and receiving interest from his parents’ home country of Poland, Miazga will be officially cap tied if he features in Friday’s match. Although he doesn’t turn 21 until next summer, he is already one of MLS’ most dominant defenders, averaging seven clearances and 2.3 tackles per game while shutting down the likes of international stars Sebastian Giovinco and David Villa. Miazga is a success story for both Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer’s youth development systems.
U.S. Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Tim Howard (Everton)
DEFENDERS (8): Ventura Alvarado (Club America), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), Tim Ream (Fulham FC), Brek Shea (Orlando City SC)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Miguel Ibarra (Club Leon), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), DeAndre Yedlin (Sunderland)
FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Alan Gordon (LA Galaxy), Jordan Morris (Stanford), Bobby Wood (Union Berlin), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
Miazga, 20, has the makings of a future fixture along the USMNT’s backline. The 6-foot-4 New Jersey native joined the New York Red Bulls Academy in 2009 before signing a Homegrown Player contract in 2013. After starring for the United States U-18, U-20, and U-23 squads, and receiving interest from his parents’ home country of Poland, Miazga will be officially cap tied if he features in Friday’s match. Although he doesn’t turn 21 until next summer, he is already one of MLS’ most dominant defenders, averaging seven clearances and 2.3 tackles per game while shutting down the likes of international stars Sebastian Giovinco and David Villa. Miazga is a success story for both Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer’s youth development systems.
U.S. Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Tim Howard (Everton)
DEFENDERS (8): Ventura Alvarado (Club America), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), Tim Ream (Fulham FC), Brek Shea (Orlando City SC)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Miguel Ibarra (Club Leon), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), DeAndre Yedlin (Sunderland)
FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Alan Gordon (LA Galaxy), Jordan Morris (Stanford), Bobby Wood (Union Berlin), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
By: Editor
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