SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake Captain Kyle Beckerman and GK Nick Rimando have been named to U.S. Men’s National Team Manager Jurgen Klinsmann’s preliminary 30-man World Cup roster. Beckerman and Rimando will depart Salt Lake City on Wednesday to join the national team for a preparation camp in Palo Alto, Calif. The U.S.’s final 23-man World Cup roster will be announced at a yet to be determined date; FIFA’s final deadline for naming the 23-man roster is June 2.
The USMNT will train in Palo Alto for two weeks before taking on Azerbaijan in a friendly match on Tuesday, May 27 at Candlestick Park. That game will be the first of three in the U.S.’s Send-Off Series, with the USMNT heading to New York to take on Turkey at Red Bull Arena on Sunday, June 1 before playing Nigeria at EverBank Field in Jacksonville on Saturday, June 7.
The U.S. will depart for Brazil following its friendly against Nigeria. The 2014 FIFA World Cup will officially kick off on June 12. The United States will play in the tournament’s Group G, taking on Ghana on June 16, Portugal on June 22 and Germany on June 26. Should the U.S. finish in the top two of Group G, it will advance to the single-elimination knockout rounds. All of the U.S.’s group stage matches will broadcast live on ESPN.
A regular member of Klinsmann’s squad selections, Beckerman has 35 career caps with the United States. Beckerman has started two of the USMNT’s three matches this year, playing a total of 161 minutes in friendlies against Korea Republic and Mexico. He appeared in ten matches – including nine starts – for the U.S. in 2013, notching two assists for the Stars-and-Stripes last calendar year. Beckerman captained the U.S. in its 0-0 draw against Canada on Jan. 29, 2013 in Houston and earned CONCACAF Gold Cup Final MVP honors in the U.S.’s tournament clinching win over Panama on July 28, 2013.
Beckerman has started all 10 of RSL’s matches this year, helping the Claret-and-Cobalt to its unbeaten start with two goals, two assists and fine defensive work from his spot at the base of the team’s midfield diamond.
Nick Rimando has 14 career caps with the U.S senior team. Like Beckerman, Rimando also has two starts for the USMNT this year, playing the full 90 in the team’s win over Korea Republic and draw with Mexico. The 34-year-old ‘keeper had six appearances with the USMNT in 2013, posting a perfect 6-0-0 record, registering two shutouts, allowing just four goals and helping lead the team to its CONCACAF Gold Cup crown.
Rimando has started eight of RSL’s 10 matches this season, posting a 5-0-3 record, making 31 saves, stopping both attempted penalty kicks against and registering three shutouts. Along with Tim Howard and Brad Guzan, Rimando is one of just three goalkeepers on the U.S.’s 30-man roster. FIFA mandates that all World Cup teams name three goalkeepers to their final 23-man roster.
The USMNT officially qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup last September when the Stars-and-Stripes defeated Mexico 2-0 in Columbus and Panama drew 2-2 at Honduras, pushing the U.S. to the top of the CONCACAF Hexagonal group. Beckerman and Rimando were both with the U.S. national team for its qualification, with Beckerman playing a full 90 minutes in the Americans’ win over Mexico. The USMNT finished its World Cup Qualifying cycle in first-place in the CONCACAF Hexagonal with a 2-0 win over Jamaica on Oct. 11 and a thrilling 3-2 win over Panama on Oct. 15 in which Beckerman put in a full 90 minutes. The U.S. has won the CONCACAF Hexagonal in three-straight World Cup Qualifying cycles.
Real Salt Lake is one of four clubs to send two players to the Palo Alto camp. Seattle Sounders FC sent three players to the camp, the most from any one team. A total of 24 clubs sent players to the camp.
If Beckerman and Rimando are named to the U.S.’s final World Cup roster, they will miss a minimum of six RSL regular season matches and at least one – and potentially up to three – Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches.
U.S. 30-Man Roster by Position
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (11): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
