Seattle Sounders forward Clint Dempsey will begin on the bench for the United States men’s national team on Friday against Panama in 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando. Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. PT on ESPN2. Defender Román Torres, meanwhile, gets the start for Panama. Torres has over 100 caps for his home country.
Dempsey has 57 career U.S. goals and is tied with Landon Donovan for the all-time U.S. men’s record. Dempsey has 18 goals in 41 career World Cup Qualifying appearances, the most WCQ tallies in U.S. men’s history. He has four goals in four games in this WCQ cycle, including a hat trick against Honduras back in March.
This match is a vital one for the Stars and Stripes, as three points against Panama allows the U.S. to control its own fate.
