Twenty-Four Players Called For USMNT BioSteel January Training Camp To Kick Off 2026 FIFA World Cup Cycle - U.S. Soccer

CHICAGO (Jan. 18, 2023) – At the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup cycle, 24 players have been called to Southern California for the annual U.S. Men’s National Team’s BioSteel January training camp. A total of 13 players are seeking their first full international cap, while five players lend veteran experience as they return from the USMNT’s successful run at the 2022 World Cup.

The training camp will kick off Jan. 21 before the USMNT faces fellow 2022 World Cup participant Serbia on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles (10 p.m. ET; HBO Max, Universo, Peacock, Telemundo App) and South American power Colombia on Saturday, Jan. 28 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. (7:30 p.m. ET; TNT, Telemundo, Peacock, Telemundo App). 

USMNT assistant coach Anthony Hudson will lead the training camp while fellow World Cup assistant B.J. Callaghan and Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team head coach Mikey Varas will serve as assistant coaches.

“We are thrilled with the group of players we’ve been able to put together for this camp,” Hudson said. “The annual January Camp gives us a chance to look at some real high potential young players as well as some dual nationals we have been following. The focus has been on identifying positions within our team that need more depth. We are also leaning on some of our veteran players for their experience on the field as well as to socialize the younger players into the incredible culture we have built within the squad. We know from history that many players who get their first national team opportunity in this window go on to make a World Cup roster, so we want them to make the most of it.”

With the match dates falling outside of the designated international calendar, clubs are not required to release players for national team duty. The January Camp typically consists largely of U.S.-based players who are not in season.

USMNT ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB/COUNTRY; CAPS/GOALS) - JANUARY CAMP

GOALKEEPERS (3): Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati; 0/0), Sean Johnson (Unattached; 10/0), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea/ENG; 0/0)

DEFENDERS (8): Jonathan Gómez (Real Sociedad/ESP; 1/0), Julian Gressel (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 0/0), DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution; 0/0), Aaron Long (LAFC; 29/3), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy; 0/0), Sam Rogers (Rosenborg/NOR; 0/0), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; 0/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 37/3)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER; 0/0), Kellyn Acosta (LAFC; 55/2), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; 0/0), Paxton Pomykal (FC Dallas; 1/0), Alan Soñora (Unattached; 0/0), Eryk Williamson (Portland Timbers; 4/0)

FORWARDS (7): Paul Arriola (FC Dallas; 48/10), Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; 1/0), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; 16/7), Matthew Hoppe (Middlesbrough/ENG; 6/1), Emmanuel Sabbi (Odense/DEN; 0/0), Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati; 0/0), Alejandro Zendejas (Club America/MEX; 0/0)

THE ROAD TO A WORLD CUP ROSTER IS PAVED THROUGH JANUARY CAMP

Dating back to 1999, 30 players who have debuted or earned their second cap during the USMNT’s first camp of a calendar year have gone on to make a FIFA World Cup roster. From the USA’s squad at Qatar 2022, nine players earned their first or second cap during a January camp match, including captain Tyler Adams, forward Brenden Aaronson, defenders Walker Zimmerman and Tim Ream and starting goalkeeper Matt Turner. That figure also includes five members of the 100-cap club: Jozy Altidore, DaMarcus Beasley, Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan.

OPPORTUNITY ABOUND

The USMNT’s January training camp roster is traditionally filled with rising talents getting their first looks with the senior team and this year’s squad is no different. Eleven players have earned their first USMNT call-up -- goalkeeper Roman Celentano, defenders Julian Gressel, Jalen Neal, Sam Rogers and John Tolkin, midfielders Paxten Aaronson, Aidan Morris and Alan Soñora plus forwards Emmanuel Sabbi, Brandon Vazquez and Alejandro Zendejas. In addition, goalkeeper Gaga Slonina and defender DeJuan Jones join the aforementioned 11 in seeking their full international debut against Serbia and Colombia. Five other players have six or fewer USMNT appearances -- defender Jonathan Gómez, midfielders Paxton Pomykal and Eryk Williamson plus forwards Cade Cowell and Matthew Hoppe.

The young, uncapped players come with plenty of experience in the U.S. Men’s Youth National Teams program. Last summer, Aaronson, Cowell and Neal helped lead the USA to a third-straight Concacaf U-20 Championship, a berth to the Olympics for the first time since Beijing 2008 and a spot in this summer’s FIFA U-20 World Cup. First-time call-ups Vazquez and Zendejas represented the USA at the 2015 U-17 World Cup, while Sabbi was a part of the U.S. team at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. 

WORLD CUP VETERANS RETURN

In addition to the young talent getting an opportunity this month, five players return from the USMNT’s successful run at the World Cup -- goalkeeper Sean Johnson, defenders Zimmerman and Aaron Long, midfielder Kellyn Acosta and forward Jesús Ferreira. Zimmerman played a key role on the U.S. back line, appearing in every match and making a critical goal line clearance late in the USMNT’s knockout round-clinching victory against Iran. Acosta made two substitute appearances in Qatar and Ferreira started in the Round of 16 match against Netherlands.

BACK TO LA

After the condensed World Cup qualifying schedule featured three Octagonal matches for the USMNT during January/February 2022, the USA returns to the passionate soccer community in the Los Angeles area to launch its four-year run up to hosting the world’s biggest sporting event - the 2026 FIFA World Cup - alongside Canada and Mexico.

The USMNT has played in California 114 times, more than any other state, with 43 of those matches taking place in Carson and Los Angeles. USA-Serbia marks the USMNT’s first game at LAFC’s Banc of California Stadium, while the U.S. is 12-2-3 at Dignity Health Sports Park all-time and 11-7-9 in matches played in Los Angeles proper. SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. is one of 11 U.S. host venues for the 2026 World Cup.

USA VS. SERBIA

The match on Jan. 15 at the Banc is just the fourth meeting all-time between the USMNT and Serbia, with the U.S. posting a 0-2-1 record since their first meeting against then Yugoslavia at the 1956 Olympics in Sydney. The U.S. also dropped a tight 1-0 loss at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.  The nations played to a scoreless draw to kick off the USA’s 2017 schedule on Jan. 29 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

USA VS. COLOMBIA

The USA will face a Colombia squad hungry to kickstart the 2026 World Cup cycle after missing the tournament for the first time since 2010. The U.S. will look to earn its first victory against the South American squad since March 2005, a 3-0 win in Fullerton, Calif. One of the USMNT’s most memorable World Cup victories came against Colombia in Southern California during the 1994 World Cup, a 2-1 win at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena featuring a goal from current U.S. Soccer Sporting Director Earnie Stewart.

USMNT ROSTER NOTES:

• The roster averages nine international caps and will have an average age of 24 years, 46 days as of the first day of training on Jan. 21.

• Five players from the USA’s 2022 FIFA World Cup roster will take part: midfielder Kellyn Acosta (55 caps), defenders Walker Zimmerman (37 caps) and Aaron Long (29 caps), forward Jesús Ferreira (16 caps) and goalkeeper Sean Johnson (10 caps).

• Veteran forward Paul Arriola (48 caps) returns to the USMNT after last appearing in the 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia on Sept. 27, 2022 in Murcia, Spain. Should he appear in both matches, Arriola will become the 60^th USMNT player to earn 50 career international appearances.

• Five other players on the roster have caps: Matthew Hoppe (6), Eryk Williamson (4), Cade Cowell (1), Jonathan Gómez (1) and Paxton Pomykal (1).

• Eleven of the 13 uncapped players are being summoned to their first USMNT camp: goalkeeper Roman Celentano; defenders Julian Gressel, Jalen Neal, Sam Rogers and John Tolkin; midfielders Paxten Aaronson, Aidan Morris and Alan Soñora; forwards Emmanuel Sabbi, Brandon Vazquez and Alejandro Zendejas.

• Uncapped goalkeeper Gaga Slonina and defender DeJuan Jones return to camp for the first time since last January.

• Fifteen players are currently under contract with Major League Soccer clubs, seven feature for clubs abroad and two players – Sean Johnson and Alan Soñora – are currently unattached.

• Seven players feature for clubs outside of Major League Soccer, marking the highest foreign-based contingent ever in a USMNT January camp. They are Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt; Germany), Jonathan Gómez (Real Sociedad; Spain), Matthew Hoppe (Middlesbrough; England), Sam Rogers (Rosenborg; Norway), Emmanuel Sabbi (Odense; Denmark), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea) and Alejandro Zendejas (Club America; Mexico).

• Eight players are age-eligible for the 2024 Summer Olympics: Matthew Hoppe and Aidan Morris (21); John Tolkin (20); Paxten Aaronson, Cade Cowell, Jonathan Gómez, and Jalen Neal (19); Gaga Slonina (18).

• After signing with LAFC early in the new year, defender Aaron Long will play his first match at Banc of California as a member of the Black and Gold on Jan. 25 against Serbia.

• Long’s new club teammate Kellyn Acosta will also make his first appearance at Banc of California Stadium since finding the back of the net to help LAFC win the 2022 MLS Cup Final.

• Born in Santa Marta, Colombia, forward Jesús Ferreira will have the chance to play against the country of his birth when the USA faces Los Cafeteros on Jan. 28 in Carson, Calif.

• Five players are from Southern California: Paul Arriola (Chula Vista), Matthew Hoppe (Yorba Linda), Aaron Long (Oak Hills), Jalen Neal (Lakewood) and Brandon Vazquez (San Diego).

• Paxton Pomykal earns his first USMNT call-up since the 2020 January camp. The FC Dallas midfielder earned his senior-team debut months earlier in the 1-1 draw against Uruguay on Sept. 10, 2019 in St. Louis.

• Midfielder Eryk Williamson returns to the USMNT for the first time since appearing in the Concacaf Gold Cup Final win against Mexico on Aug. 1, 2021 in Las Vegas.

• Another member of the 2021 Gold Cup winning side, forward Matthew Hoppe is seeking his first cap since the 2-1 win against Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying on Oct. 13, 2021 in Columbus.

• Forward Cade Cowell and defender Jonathan Gómez made their USMNT debuts at Dignity Health Sports Park, coming on as substitutes in the 1-0 friendly win against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Dec. 18, 2021.

• German-born veteran defender Julian Gressel received his U.S. citizenship on Nov. 5, 2022, paving the way for this month’s call-up. The 29-year-old defender has competed in nearly 200 competitive matches during his time with Atlanta United (2017-19), D.C. United (2020-22) and Vancouver Whitecaps (2022-present).

• Should he feature in either match, 18-year-old Gaga Slonina would become the youngest goalkeeper to appear for the USMNT. The current record holder is Tony Meola, who was 19 years, 106 days when he debuted on June 7, 1988 in Albuquerque, N.M.

• Four of the five World Cup veterans made their USMNT debuts in matches associated with January camp: Sean Johnson (Jan. 22, 2011 vs. Chile), Kellyn Acosta (Jan. 31, 2016 vs. Iceland), Walker Zimmerman (Feb. 3, 2017 vs. Jamaica) and Jesús Ferreira (Feb. 1, 2020 vs. Costa Rica).

• After earning his first two caps in late 2018, Aaron Long made his third and fourth appearances for the USMNT in the team’s first two matches of 2019 – a 3-0 win against Panama on Jan. 27 and 2-0 win against Costa Rica on Feb. 2.

• Three players helped the USA claim the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship and qualify for this year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia and the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris: Paxten Aaronson, Cade Cowell and Jalen Neal.

• Younger brother of 2022 World Cup veteran Brenden Aaronson, Paxten Aaronson transferred to German Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt late last year after helping Philadelphia Union to a first-place finish in the Eastern Conference and a spot in the MLS Cup Final.

• Should Paxten appear in either match, the Aaronsons would become the eighth set of brothers to represent the USMNT: John and Pedro DeBrito; Otto and Rolf Decker; Angelo and Paul DiBernardo; Charlie and Henry McCully; George and Louie Nanchoff; Steve and Ken Snow; Archie and Tom Stark.

• Teammates at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, first time call-ups Brandon Vazquez and Alejandro Zendejas are the seventh and eighth players from that squad to earn a USMNT call-up.

• Vazquez comes off a breakout season in which he registered 18 goals and eight assists in 33 matches to help FC Cincinnati earn its first berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

• Zendejas tallied four goals and two assists in 16 matches to help Club América finish top of the table during the 2022-23 Liga MX Apertura campaign.

• Forward Emmanuel Sabbi was part of the U.S. squad at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Korea Republic and will look to become the 10^th player from that team to earn a USMNT cap. Injured at the start of the Danish SuperLiga season, Sabbi recorded two goals and two assists in his four appearances for Odense prior to the World Cup break.

• Part of the U.S. squad that claimed the 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship, center back Sam Rogers comes to his first USMNT camp on the back of a strong 2022 Norwegian Elitserien campaign with Rosenborg. The 23-year-old defender recorded six goals and two assists and helped earn six shutouts in 23 appearances to help the club to a third-place finish.

• Currently unattached to a club, midfielder Alan Soñora earns his first USMNT call-up after three seasons with Independiente in Argentina.

• Midfielder Aidan Morris and defender John Tolkin were guest players at the USMNT’s fitness camp prior to the selection of the 2022 FIFA World Cup roster last October in Frisco, Texas.

• Still just 20 years old, Tolkin has racked up 59 career regular season appearances as a left back for New York Red Bulls the past two seasons.

• The 21-year-old Morris started 20 of his 27 regular season appearances for Columbus Crew last season. 

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Twenty-Four Players Called For USMNT BioSteel January Training Camp To Kick Off 2026 FIFA World Cup Cycle - U.S. Soccer
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