Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Cristian Roldan and forward Jordan Morris have been called into the United States Men’s National Team for training camp in Phoenix, Arizona from January 7-21. The USMNT roster for this month’s World Cup Qualifiers will be finalized at the end of this training camp. Additionally, defender Nouhou has been called up to the Cameroon National Team for the Africa Cup of Nations taking place from January 9 – February 6.
Roldan, 26, has 30 career international caps and 14 starts, most recently starting and playing 90 minutes in an international friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina on December 18. In 2021, he appeared in four matches for the U.S. during its 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign, in addition to five appearances during the USMNT’s title-winning effort at the Concacaf Gold Cup. Roldan tallied six goals and six assists for Sounders FC during the 2021 MLS campaign.
Morris, 27, continues his return to the U.S. Men’s National Team after missing nine months due to an ACL tear. He also started in the friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina on December 18, his first international cap since November of 2019. Morris has started 18 of his 40 career appearances for the Stars and Stripes, scoring 10 goals, including four during the Concacaf Nations League in late 2019, the last time he was called up to the squad before his injury. The Mercer Island native was idle for most of the 2021 calendar year due to the ACL injury, making his return to the pitch for Sounders FC on November 2 against the LA Galaxy and getting his first start of the season in the Rave Green’s playoff match on November 24 against Real Salt Lake.
Nouhou, 24, has six career caps for the Cameroon National Team, all starts. This is the first time Nouhou has been called up to the senior team for the Africa Cup of Nations, previously playing in the tournament as a youth international in 2019 (U-23) and 2017 (U-20) . Last year, the defender started four 2022 World Cup Qualifying matches for Cameroon, amassing 276 minutes. As the host nation for AFCON, Cameroon plays in the first match of the Group Stage on January 9 against Burkina Faso, followed by matches against Ethiopia on January 13 and Cabo Verde on January 17. All games are at 8:00 a.m. PT. Nouhou started 16 of 19 MLS appearances for Sounders FC in 2021.
Sounders FC continues to prepare for the 2022 season, kicking off the competitive calendar with a home-and-away series against F.C. Motagua in the 2022 Concacaf Champions League. Seattle plays in Honduras on February 17 before hosting Motagua on February 24 at Lumen Field. The Rave Green’s 2022 MLS campaign begins at home on February 27 vs. Nashville SC.
