SEATTLE, WASH. – U.S. Soccer today announced that Sounders FC forward Clint Dempsey and defender/midfielder Brad Evans have been named to the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for the winner-take-all CONCACAF Cup against Mexico on October 10 (6:30 p.m. PT / FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports Go, Univision, Univision Deportes Network). Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann and his 23-man squad are set to take on El Tri at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. for a spot in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia.
Dempsey, 32, is sixth all-time with 119 appearances and fifth with 106 starts for the USMNT, including appearances in each of the last three FIFA World Cups. His 48 career goals rank second all-time, just nine behind Landon Donovan for the USMNT record. Dempsey leads the U.S. with nine goals in nine appearances in 2015, including Golden Boot honors at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he netted seven goals.
Evans, 30, has 23 career international caps, including six in 2015, and recorded the game-winning assist in the USMNT's 2-1 win at Germany on June 10. He has one international goal - a stoppage-time winner at Jamaica on June 7, 2013, the latest match-winning goal in U.S. FIFA World Cup Qualifying history. Evans made four appearances for the USMNT at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The October 10 match is a faceoff of the region’s fiercest rivals. In a series dating back to 1934, the U.S. has taken the momentum in recent years. The USMNT has dominated at home, amassing a 10-2-4 record on U.S. soil against El Tri since 2000. Additionally, the United States is unbeaten in the last four years with a 3-0-3 record, including the team’s first victory against Mexico on Mexican soil.
The teams most recently met in April in San Antonio, where the U.S. triumphed 2-0, a scoreline that has highlighted nine USMNT victories against Mexico since 2000. Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann will look to extend his lifetime unbeaten streak as a player and coach against Mexico to 11 games (5-0-5 all-time).
The USMNT’s place in the playoff was secured when it won the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Mexico won the 2015 edition of the tournament and in so doing qualified for the playoff.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (9): Ventura Alvarado (Club America), DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), Tim Ream (Fulham), Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Danny Williams (Reading), DeAndre Yedlin (Sunderland), Graham Zusi (Sporting KC)
FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
