RENTON— Cristian Roldan’s surprise call to the U.S. Men’s National Team camp in September was a bit of recognition for an excellent couple of seasons. Even though that significantly shortened his well-earned break after winning the Leagues Cup Final with the Seattle Sounders — a game in which he and teammate Obed Vargas combined to effectively shut down the greatest player to ever touch a ball, Leo Messi — he was eager to join.
It was also something of a first domino falling in what may end up being a series of dominos leading to him playing a major role when the USMNT hit the field in the World Cup next year.
Roldan showed well during that window, contributing to an improved team performance after he subbed on in a 2-0 loss against South Korea before playing all 90 minutes and doing a lot the gritty work needed to keep things moving on time in a 2-0 win against a rotated Japan team. That camp led to a call for the camp that just finished, in which Roldan shown particularly bright as he helped the USMNT come back from a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1 against Australia as he provided the assists for both of Haji Wright’s goals. His performance drew serious praise from USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino, suggesting that he may continue to have an important role to play.
“Timing in football is everything,” Roldan said to the gathered media after training on Thursday. “I get invited to a camp in September, last minute, I felt like I had a good camp.”
For those familiar with his game, it’s no real surprise that he’s been able to make the most of these opportunities, particularly as he’s being played in a similar role to the one he’s been excelling in for the Sounders.
“I’m excited, we’ll see if my name is selected for the November camp,” Roldan continued. “Hopefully people are feeling my presence, whether it’s on the field or off the field.”
Although Roldan has been to a World Cup before, going to Qatar with Gregg Berhalter’s USMNT in 2022, he’s in a very different place now. Roldan was a fringe player in the team primarily as a “vibes guy” in ’22, but having moved back to his best position in the center of midfield he’s playing some of the best football of his career in a position that hasn’t exactly been settled for the USMNT. While there are several presumed starters in midfield playing in top leagues in Europe, they’ve largely struggled to stay both healthy and in good form. Enter Cristian Roldan, who has been able to continue his Sounders form when playing with the USMNT.
Not only are his on-field contributions helping, but the level of experience that Cristian has accumulated over his career also sets him apart among the squad. “I’ve been to a World Cup, I’m now 30. I think maybe Tim [Ream] and Matt Turner are maybe the only guys older than me,” he said, describing his place as an elder statesman in the current USMNT.
“Sometimes the club level experience gets thrown out the window when you’re at the international level,” Roldan explained, noting that it can be a bit like comparing apples and oranges when putting MLS matches alongside UEFA Champions League experience. “But big games are big games.” Roldan’s experience with the Sounders competing in and winning Concacaf Champions League/Cup, Leagues Cup, and playing against Concacaf nations with the USMNT stacks up favorably against even his most decorated Europe-based teammates. “I feel like my experience has grown as well.”
Nothing is guaranteed at this point, but if Cristian can continue to play at the level he’s shown since moving back to central midfield, he’ll have a chance to be a difference maker for the U.S. when the World Cup kicks off next summer. To have that chance, though, he’ll need to keep playing well as the regular season wraps up and the playoffs start for the Sounders. From there his USMNT road continues with a potential call-up to the November camp, but these last two windows have already provided pretty big steps along that path.
