CARSON, Calif. (Thursday, June 27, 2013) – LA Galaxy forward Landon Donovan has been named to the United States roster for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup. Donovan is one of 23 players named to the squad by head coach Jurgen Klinsmann and will join up with the rest of the U.S. team in San Diego following this weekend’s game against the San Jose Earthquakes.
The all-time leader in goals for the U.S. with 49, Donovan last appeared with the National Team in August 2012 when he played in a friendly against Mexico. He collected his 144th cap in that game, leaving him second in U.S. history in all-time appearances, behind only Cobi Jones. Additionally, the 31-year-old has played in a U.S. record 28 previous Gold Cup games, scoring 13 goals, which are also a record. Donovan was a part of the U.S. team at the Gold Cup in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2011, scoring at least once in each tournament, with the U.S. never finishing lower than third and winning the competition in 2002, 2005 and 2007.
The U.S. squad will begin gathering on July 1 in San Diego, and will host Guatemala on July 5 in the only tune-up match prior to the start of the tournament. The CONCACAF Gold Cup opens in Los Angeles on Sunday, July 7 and runs through Sunday, July 28 with the Gold Cup Final in Chicago. The U.S. opens the competition on July 9 against Belize before taking on Cuba on July 13 and then rounding out group play on July 16 against Costa Rica.
The winner of the 2013 Gold Cup will compete in a playoff with the winner of the 2015 event for the right to represent CONCACAF at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. The U.S. has reached the final of the Gold Cup in five of the last six tournaments, winning three titles.
