Reaching the final round of World Cup qualifying is the most important thing on the U.S. national team's agenda for September, but being able to introduce some youngsters to the mix would certainly be a bonus.
US national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann unveiled on Sunday a 26-man roster that will be used for the upcoming pair of World Cup qualifiers against St Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago. The squad included familiar faces like Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and Jermaine Jones, but also lesser-known commodities like Rubio Rubin, Paul Arriola and Caleb Stanko.
Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris is also back in the mix after missing out on the Copa America Centenario this summer, hoping to make his first appearance with the USMNT since an international friendly vs. Canada on Feb. 5.
The reason for the blend of players and more-than-usual call-ups? The chance that the Americans secure passage into the hexagonal round of qualifying with a game to spare.
“Bringing in a little bit of a bigger group gives us opportunity, depending on what happens in the first game and also paralleled in the Trinidad & Tobago against Guatemala game, that we might be able to change certain things for the second game," Klinsmann told USSoccer.com in a Q&A. "But the priority is the group that played in Copa America. They need to get the job done in St. Vincent, and then see how we can modify little things.
"It also gives us a chance during a couple of days to work with a couple extra guys – younger guys – that we’ve had an eye on since quite a while, like Caleb Stanko or Rubio Rubin. They are players that are knocking at the door and are doing well in their club environment, so that’s nice to see them."
There is no guarantee that the promising youngsters see the field, however. The US currently sit in second place of Group C with seven points from four games. The Americans need to beat already-eliminated St Vincent & the Grenadines on the road on Friday, and have group leaders Trinidad & Tobago oust Guatemala that same day in order for the US to book an early spot in the final round of World Cup qualifying.
So the onus is on Klinsmann's core group of veterans to get the job done, certainly in the first game, and then possibly vs. Trinidad & Tobago on Sept. 6.
“Our message for players coming into this camp for the two World Cup qualifiers is very clear: Approach it with a lot of urgency," said Klinsmann. "It’s not easy to go into those Caribbean countries and get the results, so it’s not going to be easy in St. Vincent on a very difficult field with heat and whatever else to get the goals as quickly as possible. We’ve got to be patient, but we have to play with urgency and determination in our approach.
"That’s how we are going to go and prepare for that game. Depending on the result between Trinidad & Tobago and Guatemala, we will see if that takes us to a decisive game in Jacksonville against Trinidad & Tobago."
