United States World Cup roster finalized: DeAndre Yedlin, Clint Dempsey make final cut, Brad Evans doesn't

UPDATE: A Sounders spokesperson confirmed Evans is set to rejoin the team but was unsure if he would be able to play as soon as Saturday.

Jurgen Klinsmann still had a few weeks to do it, but instead the United States manager named his 23-man roster on Thursday. Along with the early announcement, there were several surprises, chief among them was Seattle Sounders right back DeAndre Yedlin making the final cut ahead of teammate Brad Evans.

Yedlin, still just 20, was one of several youngsters to make the roster. The Homegrown Player is only a couple years out of the Academy and high school and has just one full season of professional soccer under his belt. He is now one of two natural right backs on the team (with Timmy Chandler the other) with Geoff Cameron and Fabian Johnson able to play there as well. Yedlin now has a chance to be a World Cup starter, not just a fringe talent. Evans will remain on the standby list, but will rejoin the Sounders shortly, according to the U.S. Soccer release, and could possibly be available for Saturday's game against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

As expected Captain Clint Dempsey will lead the men in their Group Stage quest against Ghana, Portugal and Germany.

Slightly more surprising is that Evans did not make the roster after starting virtually every match in which he was available since breaking into the team last summer. The inclusion of Chandler and youngsters like Yedlin, John Anthony Brooks and Julian Green dropped some of the veterans on the squad.

As shocking as Evans' exclusion may be, he has plenty of company with the likes of Landon Donovan, who will miss out on what would have been his fourth World Cup. This would have been his fourth straight appearance in the world's grandest tournament.

Sounder at Heart will be hosting a viewing party for the Ghana match with details still to come.

Full roster

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (8): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)