SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake MF Kyle Beckerman and DF Tony Beltran were called to the U.S. Men’s National Team’s January training camp on Sunday.
The training camp will begin on Monday at the National Training Center in Carson, Calif. and run until Jan. 27, when the 25-man team will depart for Houston in advance of its Jan. 29 friendly against Canada at BBVA Compass Stadium.
The match is the only game that the U.S. will play in the buildup to its Feb. 6 final round World Cup qualifier at Honduras. In addition to the Hexagonal, the U.S. will compete in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer.
This is the first time that Beltran has been called to the senior team. The 25-year-old right back was strong in his first year as a full-time starter in 2012, leading RSL – and setting career highs – with 32 MLS appearances, 32 MLS starts and 2,857 minutes played.
Beltran has experience as a youth international, suiting up for the U.S. U-20 team at the U-20 World Cup in 2007 and earning two caps for the U-23 side in 2008.
“For a footballer, to be called in to represent one’s country is the highest honor,” Beltran said. “I am thrilled to be able to begin the year with this new challenge. I go into camp as I do anything in life, ready to learn and work hard. My hope is to leave my mark with the team, and return to RSL the better for the experience, ready for the season.”
Beckerman has 23 career senior national team appearances. The RSL captain established himself as a regular for the U.S. in 2012, earning five caps, making the roster for all six of the team’s World Cup qualifying matches and playing the full 90 minutes in the Americans’ historic 1-0 win at Mexico on Aug. 15. This is the fifth time that the 30-year-old Beckerman has been called to the U.S’s annual January camp.
Beltran and Beckerman will both miss a portion of RSL’s preseason – which begins in earnest with a week-long training camp in Casa Grande, Ariz. on Jan. 21 – while with the national team. The Claret-and-Cobalt’s full preseason schedule can be found by clicking here.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3): Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire)
DEFENDERS (9): Steven Beitashour (San Jose Earthquakes), Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), A.J. DeLaGarza (LA Galaxy), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Connor Lade (New York Red Bulls), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Justin Morrow (San Jose Earthquakes), Jeff Parke (Philadelphia Union)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (out of contract), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Joshua Gatt (Molde), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (5): Juan Agudelo (Chivas USA), Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo), Edson Buddle (Colorado Rapids), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
