Fabian Johnson, Gyasi Zardes Among Those Missing USMNT’s Last Two World Cup Qualifiers

The U.S. Men’s National Team has two 2018 World Cup Qualifiers remaining this month, and head coach Bruce Arena has named his 23-man roster for both contests.

USMNT World Cup Qualifiers roster news

The Americans will first play Panama in Orlando on Friday, then visit Trinidad and Tobago on Oct. 10. Arena’s squad is in danger of missing next year’s tournament in Russia for the first time since 1986 following a string of poor performances. The USMNT managed only a last-minute 1-1 tie against Honduras in its last game, and fell to Costa Rica 2-0 before that. They also tied Mexico 1-1 earlier this year.

The U.S. is fourth in the six-team North, Central American and Carribbean group with nine points (one point behind third-place Panama). Mexico leads that hexagonal with 18 points. Only the top three teams in each group earn an automatic berth to the World Cup.

The Americans could still qualify by winning their last two games, but anything short of that would require help from table leaders Mexico and Costa Rica, who also play their final two qualifiers this month.

“It comes down to where we need four or six points in our last two games,” Arena said. “I think that’s fine and we’ll get it done.”

Two major U.S. players who will sit out the final two games are Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Fabian Johnson, whom Arena decided to leave off due to a lack of fitness, and L.A. Galaxy midfielder Gyasi Zardes, who suffered a groin injury in his MLS team’s 1-1 tie vs. Salt Lake City on Saturday.

Also sitting out will be Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris, who strained his hamstring last month, and German-born VfL Wolfsburg defender John Brooks, who sustained a thigh injury in his debut with the Bundesliga team this season.

Arena also called up forward Jozy Altidore and defenders Geoff Cameron and DeAndre Yedlin, who all missed substantial time with their club teams in September due to hamstring injuries. The roster also includes Colombian-born New England Revolution forward Juan Agudelo — a former Chivas USA star who has never played in a World Cup Qualifier — and Sporting Kansas City midfielder Benny Feilhaber, who hasn’t attended training camp before a qualifier since 2009. Feilhaber has not played for the national team since a 1-0 exhibition win over Jamaica on Feb. 5, when he made his first start since 2012.

“It’s a roster we’ve selected that we believe will give us success in these next two games,” Arena said. “We have a pretty balanced roster with experienced players, and if any issues arise, I think we have cover in all positions. We need to anticipate some issues with players with injuries, as well as suspensions.”

Kellyn Acosta, Paul Arriola, DaMarcus Beasley, Alejandro Bedoya, Matt Besler, Michael Bradley, Cameron, Clint Dempsey and Yedlin all would be suspended for the Trinidad match if they get a yellow card against Panama.

Here is the full U.S. roster:

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Atlanta), Tim Howard (Colorado), Nick Rimando (Salt Lake)

Defenders: DaMarcus Beasley (Houston), Matt Besler (Kansas City), Geoff Cameron (Stoke, England), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca, Mexico), Michael Orozco (Tijuana, Mexico), Tim Ream (Fulham, England), Jorge Villafana (Santos Laguna, Mexico), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle, England), Graham Zusi (Kansas City)

Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta (Dallas), Juan Agudelo (New England), Paul Arriola (D.C.), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia), Michael Bradley (Toronto), Benny Feilhaber (Kansas City), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire), Darlington Nagbe (Portland), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund, Germany)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Toronto), Clint Dempsey (Seattle), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose), Bobby Wood (Hamburg, Germany)

TAMPA, FL – JULY 12: Gyasi Zardes #9 of the United States against Sebastien Cretinoir #21 of Martinique during the first half of the CONCACAF Group B match at Raymond James Stadium on July 12, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)