Shea Called Up to USMNT for World Cup Qualifiers; Larin Gets the Call for Canada

It’s almost time for 2018 World Cup qualifying to start for the United States Men’s National Team, and Orlando City’s Brek Shea has gotten the call to be part of it. The USMNT has upcoming qualifiers against St. Vincent & the Grenadines in St. Louis on Nov. 13 and at Trinidad & Tobago on Nov. 17.

The U.S. is in Group C of CONCACAF qualifying, along with St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, and Guatemala.

In addition, Lions’ rookie striker Cyle Larin has unsurprisingly been selected to represent Canada in upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The confident Canuck and his mates will face Honduras on Nov. 13 and El Salvador on Nov. 17. El Salvador is a team in crisis, with several players, including captain and Orlando City midfielder Darwin Ceren, on strike in order to garner better pay and working conditions (h/t Paul Tenorio).

Jurgen Klinsmann selected a mixture of veterans and younger guys, including 11 players from the 2014 World Cup team and 13 players with World Cup qualifying experience. On the other end of the spectrum are defender Matt Miazga and midfielder Darlington Nagbe, who could receive their first caps for the U.S. (Miazga has played with U.S. youth teams but not the senior team). Other young players called up include Miguel Ibarra, Jordan Morris, Ventura Alvarado and Bobby Wood.

Shea, who has played in three WC qualifiers, competed in the first six games of 2015 for the USMNT but returned to Orlando with an injury that eventually required surgery for a sports hernia. He returned to the Lions after two months and was back in the U.S. lineup against Costa Rica on Oct. 13. He scored a goal for his country back in March on a beautiful free kick against Switzerland.

In his international career, Shea has earned 33 caps with the USMNT, scoring four goals.

Here is the full U.S. squad:

GOALKEEPERS (3)

Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Tim Howard (Everton)

DEFENDERS (8)

Ventura Alvarado (Club America), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), Tim Ream (Fulham FC), Brek Shea (Orlando City SC)

MIDFIELDERS (7)

Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Miguel Ibarra (Club Leon), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), DeAndre Yedlin (Sunderland)

FORWARDS (5)

Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Alan Gordon (LA Galaxy), Jordan Morris (Stanford), Bobby Wood (Union Berlin), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)