As expected, the United States Gold Cup roster is mostly younger MLS players. Both Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan earned the nod from Bruce Arena. It will be Roldan’s first opportunity to wear the red, white and blue with the senior side. A single appearance will cap tie him — preventing future overtures from Guatemala and El Salvador, his parents’ countries of birth.
Clint Dempsey is not on the initial 23-man list, but can be added in between the Group Stage and the Knockout Round when CONCACAF allows up to six changes. Those changes must be on the 40-man preliminary list. There are no other Seattle Sounders in danger of leaving to join the US.
Jordan Morris is often a sub with the full national team. On the Gold Cup roster he will compete for playing time with Juan Agudelo and Dom Dwyer (first call after earning his citizenship).
The Sounders will be without all three for their Open Cup match at San Jose Earthquakes on June 28. Dempsey will now be around for the trip to Colorado on July 4 and the friendly against Eintracht Frankfurt on July 8. The league is taking a pause during the Group Stage. Seattle plays two dates during the knockout rounds — home games against D.C. (July 19) and San Jose (July 23).
Federal Way native Kelyn Rowe made his first USMNT roster as well. The Crossfire product was last selected to a youth national team in 2011.
Here it is! The quest for a sixth @GoldCup crown begins!
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) June 25, 2017
Details: https://t.co/V5nQKQrR8W pic.twitter.com/bhKJOzUh9Q
Other Sounders-Gold Cup news will be coming out over the next two days. Roman Torres is not expected to be on the roster for Panama. Jordy Delem and Oniel Fisher could be selected for their sides.