LA Galaxy Midfielder Sebastian Lletget named to 24-Player USMNT roster for matches against Brazil and Mexico

LA Galaxy midfielder Sebastian Lletget has been named to a 24-player roster by U.S. Men's National Team head coach Dave Sarachan for matches against five-time World Champion Brazil and regional rival Mexico in September.

USA-Brazil opens the two-game set on Sept. 7 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Coverage on FS1, UniMas and UDN begins at 4:30 p.m. PT. Four days later, the next edition of the one of region’s greatest rivalries will be contested at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. USA-Mexico begins at 5:30 p.m. PT, with ESPN, UniMas and UDN broadcasting the action.

Lletget joins the U.S. Men’s National Team for the first time since March 2017, where he suffered an injury against Honduras in a World Cup Qualifying match that saw him miss the remainder of the 2017 season. He has made three previous appearances for the USMNT team, scoring his first goal during his debut start during the match against Honduras. This year for LA, Lletget has made 22 appearances while recording three goals and an assist since returning from injury.

“For these matches against Brazil and Mexico, the theme remains the same in that we are using the opportunity against these high-powered opponents to continue building on the foundation that we’ve laid,” Sarachan said. “We felt it was right to continue allowing this group to get valuable experience for the big picture that includes competitive matches in the future with the Gold Cup, Olympic Qualifying and World Cup Qualifying.”

The U.S. is currently scheduled to face four teams ranked in the FIFA Top 20 as part of the Kickoff Series, including Brazil (3), England (6), Colombia (14) and Mexico (16). With the final match expected to be announced later this week, the six-game set will provide the aspiring young U.S. side with top-level competition in this phase of the journey towards 2022.

DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; Caps/Goals)

GOALKEEPERS (3): Alex Bono (Toronto FC/CAN; 1/0), Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge/BEL; 2/0), Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew SC; 3/0)

DEFENDERS (9): John Brooks (Wolfsburg/GER; 33/3), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Swansea City/WAL; 4/0), Eric Lichaj (Hull City/ENG; 15/1), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Matt Miazga (Nantes/FRA; 7/1), Shaq Moore (Reus Deportiu/ESP; 2/0), Tim Parker (New York Red Bulls; 2/0), Antonee Robinson (Wigan Athletic/ENG; 2/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United/ENG; 52/0)

MIDFIELDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 17/1), Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls; 5/0), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 16/2), Julian Green (Greuther Fürth/GER; 10/4), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy;3/1), Weston McKennie (Schalke/GER; 4/1), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 3/0), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 6/0), Tim Weah (Paris Saint-Germain; 3/1)

FORWARDS (3): Andrija Novakovich (Fotuna Sittard/NED; 2/0), Bobby Wood (Hannover 96/GER; 39/12), Gyasi Zardes (37/6; Columbus Crew SC)

ROSTER NOTES

• As of Sept. 2, 2018, the roster carries an average age of 23 years, 241 days, while 14 players are 23 years and under.
• This roster averages 11 caps, with DeAndre Yedlin (52), Bobby Wood (39), Gyasi Zardes (37) and John Brooks (33) leading the way.
• On the flip side, 16 players have seven or fewer MNT appearances.
• The roster features players that ply their trade in nine different countries: USA (10), Germany (4), England (3), France (2), Belgium, Canada, Netherlands, Spain and Wales (1 each).
• Twelve players contributed in the team’s 1-1 draw with eventual World Cup champion France on June 9 in Lyon: Tyler Adams, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Julian Green, Weston McKennie, Matt Miazga, Shaq Moore, Tim Parker, Antonee Robinson, Zack Steffen, Wil Trapp, Bobby Wood and DeAndre Yedlin.
• Sebastian Lletget returns to MNT camp for the first time in 16 months. The midfielder scored the opening goal, but then suffered a lisfrac injury during the MNT’s 6-0 World Cup Qualifying win against Honduras on March 28, 2017 in San Jose.
• Midfielder Kellyn Acosta and defender John Brooks make their first MNT camp appearances of 2018, with the pair last taking part in the USA’s 1-1 draw at Portugal on Nov. 14, 2017.
• Defender Aaron Long is the sole player earning his first MNT call-up. A 2018 MLS All-Star selection, the 25-year-old has appeared in all 28 MLS matches for New York Red Bulls this season and comes to camp having helped the club to the top of the league’s Supporter Shield standings.
• Long’s center back partner with the Red Bulls Tim Parker joins him in MNT camp after earning his first two caps against Ireland and France in June. The pair have helped New York to a defensive record of 28 goal against this season – second best in Major League Soccer
• In the midst of his first season with Columbus Crew SC, forward Gyasi Zardes leads all U.S.- eligible MLS players with 15 goals this season.
• Zardes joins D.C. United winger Paul Arriola in making their first MNT camp appearances since January 2018.
• Right back DeAndre Yedlin comes to camp on the heels of his first goal in the English Premier League in Newcastle United’s 2-1 loss at Manchester City on Saturday.
• Having joined Dutch club Fortuna Sittard on loan this summer, Andrija Novakovich already has two goals for the Dutch Eredivisie side this season, most recently tallying in Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Utrecht.
• John Brooks has helped Wolfsburg to wins in its first two Bundesliga matches this season The center back tallied in the club’s 2-1 win against Schalke on Aug. 25 and went the full 90 in Saturday’s 3-1 win at Bayer Leverkusen.
• The youngest player on the September roster, Tim Weah tallied in PSG’s 4-0 win against Monaco in the French Super Cup on Aug. 4 and the club’s 3-0 win against Caen in their Ligue 1 opener on Aug. 12. while John Brooks also tallied his first for Wolfsburg in a 2-1 win against Schalke on Aug. 25.
• Three players took part in the MNT’s last meeting against Brazil on Sept. 8, 2015 in Foxborough, Mass.: Bobby Wood, DeAndre Yedlin and Gyasi Zardes
• Eight players have previously represented the MNT against Mexico: Yedlin (5 games), Wood (3), Zardes (2), Acosta, Arriola, Brooks, Green and Lichaj (1 each)
• Bobby Wood has scored twice in his three appearances against Mexico, with goals coming on Oct. 10, 2015 and Nov. 11, 2016.
• With goals against Paraguay and Ireland, Wood is one of three players on the roster to find the back of the net for the MNT in 2018, joined by Julian Green (France) and Tim Weah (Bolivia).
• Julian Green made his MNT debut in a game against Mexico, coming on as a 59th minute substitute in a 2-2 draw on April 2, 2014 in Glendale, Ariz.
• Midfielders Tyler Adams and Wil Trapp lead all players on the roster with four MNT appearances in 2018. The pair has only missed out on the 3-0 win against Bolivia on May 28 in Chester, Pa.
• Whether through loan, trade or transfer, eight players have taken up residence at new clubs over the summer: Acosta (Colorado Rapids; Trade), Carter-Vickers (Swansea City; Loan), Eric Lichaj (Hull City; Transfer), Matt Miazga (Nantes; Loan), Shaq Moore (Reus Deportiu; Loan) Andrija Novakovich (Fortuna Sittard; Loan), Antonee Robinson (Wigan Athletic; Loan), Bobby Wood (Hannover 96; Loan)
• Eleven players have been part of a final U.S. roster at a youth World Cup: Kellyn Acosta, Tyler Adams, Paul Arriola, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Ethan Horvath, Matt Miazga, Shaq Moore, Zack Steffen, Wil Trapp, Tim Weah, DeAndre Yedlin.
• Fifteen players are products of U.S. Soccer Development Academy clubs: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls), Paul Arriola (LA Galaxy), Alex Bono (Empire United), Ethan Horvath (Real Colorado), Aaron Long (Arsenal FC), Weston McKennie (FC Dallas), Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls), Shaq Moore (FC Dallas), Andrija Novakovich (Chicago Magic), Zack Steffen (Continental FC DELCO), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC), Tim Weah (BW), Gotschee/New York Red Bulls), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC/Crossfire Premier), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy).