LA Galaxy forward Gyasi Zardes has withdrawn from the World Cup Qualifying roster for October after being sidelined with a groin strain suffered in the team's 1-1 draw with Real Salt Lake on Saturday night.
The Galaxy Academy product will not be replaced on the roster, which now stands at 25 players.
Zardes has previously made four World Cup Qualifying appearances, scoring one goal in those appearances. Overall, the 26-year-old has earned 37 USMNT caps and scored six times since his debut in 2015. For club, Zardes has scored 34 goals and added 17 assists in MLS play with the Galaxy throughout his career.
USA-Panama, presented by Volpi Foods, kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 6 from Orlando City Stadium in Orlando, Fla. [ESPN2, Univision, UDN). Four days later, the U.S. can secure a berth to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in the final match of the Hex against Trinidad & Tobago. Coverage on Oct. 10 from Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, Trinidad begins at 8 p.m. ET on beIN SPORT and UNIVERSO.
The top three teams in CONCACAF earn an automatic bid for the World Cup, and the United States is poised to collect one of those spots. On Matchday 9, the U.S. hosts Panama which sits one point ahead in the table. The USA is 11-1-6 all-time against Los Canaleros and has never lost to them in World Cup Qualifying, going 5-0-2 in seven matches. Four days later, they visit last-place Trinidad & Tobago.
Updated Roster by Position (Club; WCQ Caps/Goals):
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC; 15/0), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids; 37/0), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (9): DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo; 35/6), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City; 12/1), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG; 24/2), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX; 16/0), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana/MEX; 6/1), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 6/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna/MEX; 4/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United/ENG; (8/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City; 20/3)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; 5/0), Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution; 0/0), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 5/1), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union; 9/0), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 38/7), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City; 6/0), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers; 9/0), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 11/5)
FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 39/16), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC; 41/18), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Bobby Wood (Hamburg/GER; 12/4)
