Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey Among Players Added To USMNT Lineup For Gold Cup

United States Men’s National Team head coach Bruce Arena has replaced six players on his 23-man squad for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, citing the need for more stars with extensive international experience as his reason for the changes.

USMNT Gold Cup 2017 Lineup

Arena added on Sunday forwards Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders) and Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), midfielders Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) and Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), and goalkeepers Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids) and Jesse Gonzalez (FC Dallas).

According to Gold Cup regulations, teams are permitted to make up to six changes to their roster within 24 hours of the end of their third and final group-stage game, as long as the players come from a team’s 40-man preliminary roster.

The six players substitute goalkeepers Brad Guzan and Sean Johnson, midfielders Alejandro Bedoya, Cristian Roldan and Kelyn Rowe, and forward Dom Dwyer.

“We have added some experienced players to the roster that can help us in the Knockout Round of the Gold Cup,” said Arena. “The players leaving all made a good impression, and I’m optimistic for their future with the National Team program.”

Some of the changes were planned in advance. Bedoya is expecting the birth of his second child this week and thus was always expected to take time off. U.S. Soccer stated the departures of Guzan and Johnson were also expected.

Gonzalez will be playing in his first-ever official tournament since FIFA approved his one-time switch from Mexico to the U.S. earlier this month.

The other five players participated in the most recent round of 2018 World Cup qualifying in June, and four of them — Bradley, Howard, Altidore and Dempsey — boast more than 100 international caps.

The U.S. finished in first in Group B after the first round of the Gold Cup with seven points (two victories and one tie) following Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Nicaragua in Cleveland.

The Americans will next face El Salvador in the quarterfinals in Philadelphia on Wednesday night. Mexico (Group C) and Costa Rica (Group A) finished the first round as the other two group leaders.

Canada made only one change to its roster, adding Orlando City striker Cyle Larin in place of Toronto FC wing-back Raheem Edwards.

Mexico will not make any changes, given that its top players participated in the Confederations Cup earlier this summer.

Wednesday’s quarterfinal will air at 9 pm EST on Fox Sports 1.

SEATTLE, WA – JUNE 16: Clint Dempsey #8 of the United States follows the play against against Ecuador during the 2016 Quarterfinal – Copa America Centenario match at CenturyLink Field on June 16, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)