United States 2014 FIFA World Cup Squad: Player-by-Player Guide
On Monday, United States men's national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann announced his 30-man preliminary World Cup roster.
Here are all the pertinent details you need to know about these 30 players, including where they're from, what position they play and what club they play for, as well as a brief bio and some fun facts and statistics.
Tim Howard
1 of 30
Name: Tim Howard
Date of Birth: March 6, 1979
Birthplace: North Brunswick, New Jersey
Position: Goalkeeper
Caps: 97
Club: Everton
Brief Bio: After starting his career with the New York MetroStars, Howard moved to Europe where he played for Manchester United for three seasons before moving to Everton in 2006.
Quick-Hit Fact: Howard once scored a goal on a full-field clearance, but refused to celebrate out of respect for the Bolton goalkeeper he had beaten.
Quick-Hit Stat: This will be Howard's third-time representing the U.S. at the World Cup.
Brad Guzan
2 of 30
Name: Brad Guzan
Date of Birth: September 9, 1984
Birthplace: Evergreen Park, Illinois
Position: Goalkeeper
Caps: 24
Club: Aston Villa
Brief Bio: Guzan began his career with Chivas USA before moving to England with Aston Villa.
Quick-Hit Fact: Guzan once backed up fellow American goalkeeper Brad Friedel for Aston Villa.
Quick-Hit Stat: Guzan was released by Aston Villa following the 2011-12 season, but was re-signed later that summer and ended up being named Villa's 2012-13 Player of the Year in the season to come.
Nick Rimando
3 of 30
Name: Nick Rimando
Date of Birth: June 17, 1979
Birthplace: Montclair, California
Position: Goalkeeper
Caps: 14
Club: Real Salt Lake
Brief Bio: Nick Rimando has spent his entire career in MLS, playing first with the now-defunct Miami Fusion before moving on to D.C. United and, most recently, Real Salt Lake.
Quick-Hit Fact: Rimando was the first-choice goalkeeper for the U.S. in this past summer's Gold Cup. This will be his first time representing the U.S. in a World Cup.
Quick-Hit Stat: Rimando has been named to the MLS All-Star team three times.
DaMarcus Beasley
4 of 30
Name: DaMarcus Beasley
Date of Birth: May 24, 1982
Birthplace: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Position: Left-back
Caps: 114
Club: Puebla
Brief Bio: Beasley has been well-traveled as a professional. He first came to prominence with the Chicago Fire before going overseas to play with PSV Eindhoven, Manchester City, Rangers and, finally, Hannover, before returning to North America to join Liga MX's Puebla.
Quick-Hit Fact: Although Beasley some saw action at left-back under former U.S. manager Bob Bradley, he only re-emerged as a defensive option in the team's March 2013 World Cup qualifiers because of injuries to Fabian Johnson, Timmy Chandler, Steve Cherundolo, Jonathan Spector, Jose Torres and Edgar Castillo.
Quick-Hit Stat: This will be Beasley's fourth World Cup for the USMNT.
Fabian Johnson
5 of 30
Name: Fabian Johnson
Date of Birth: December 11, 1987
Birthplace: Munich, West Germany
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Caps: 19
Club: Hoffenheim
Brief Bio: As the son of an American serviceman and a German mother, Johnson has spent his entire professional career in Germany. He first began playing with 1860 Munich, before moving to Wolfsburg and then Hoffenheim. Next season, he will play for Borussia Monchengladbach.
Quick-Hit Fact: Johnson represented Germany at the U-17, U-18, U-19, U-20 and U-21 levels before filing his one-time switch to represent the U.S. at the international level.
Quick-Hit Stat: Despite playing many games for the U.S. in the midfield and being a creative playmaker, Johnson has yet to score a goal for the U.S.
Matt Besler
6 of 30
Name: Matt Besler
Date of Birth: February 11, 1987
Birthplace: Overland Park, Kansas
Position: Center-back
Caps: 14
Club: Sporting Kansas City
Brief Bio: Besler played collegiately for Notre Dame before joining Sporting KC in MLS. He has played his entire professional career for Sporting.
Quick-Hit Fact: Despite being relatively inexperienced at the international level, Besler is widely considered the only "lock" for a starting position on the U.S. back line.
Quick-Hit Stat: Besler was named MLS Defender of the Year in 2012, is a two-time league All-Star and won the MLS Cup with Sporting in 2013.
Omar Gonzalez
7 of 30
Name: Omar Gonzalez
Date of Birth: October 11, 1988
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas
Position: Center-back
Caps: 18
Club: Los Angeles Galaxy
Brief Bio: Gonzalez played collegiately for the University of Maryland and joined MLS in 2009. He has played his entire career for the Galaxy.
Quick-Hit Fact: While on loan with Nurnberg in January 2012, Gonzalez suffered an ACL tear in a collision with fellow American Timmy Chandler. Gonzalez recovered in time to help the Galaxy win the MLS Cup that year and was the Man of the Match in the final.
Quick-Hit Stat: Gonzalez has been named MLS's Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year, as well as winning the MLS Cup twice.
Clarence Goodson
8 of 30
Name: Clarence Goodson
Date of Birth: May 17, 1982
Birthplace: Alexandria, Virginia
Position: Center-back
Caps: 46
Club: San Jose Earthquakes
Brief Bio: Goodson started his career with FC Dallas before moving abroad where he played with IK Start and Brondby before returning to MLS at the end of the 2013 season.
Quick-Hit Fact: Goodson helped lead the U.S. to the Gold Cup championship in 2013 and was on the U.S.'s 2010 World Cup squad.
Quick-Hit Stat: Although a defender, Goodson has five goals in his 46 caps for the USMNT.
Geoff Cameron
9 of 30
Name: Geoff Cameron
Date of Birth: July 11, 1985
Birthplace: Attleboro, Massachusetts
Position: Defender/Midfielder
Caps: 24
Club: Stoke City
Brief Bio: Cameron played for five years with the Houston Dynamo in MLS before moving to Stoke City for the 2012-13 campaign. He quickly became a regular for Stoke in the English Premier League.
Quick-Hit Fact: Cameron has played right-back, center-back and as a holding midfielder for the U.S.
Quick-Hit Stat: In the 2012-13 EPL campaign, ESPN named Cameron as their midseason Defender of the Year.
Michael Parkhurst
10 of 30
Name: Michael Parkhurst
Date of Birth: January 24, 1984
Birthplace: Providence, Rhode Island
Position: Defender
Caps: 25
Club: Columbus Crew
Brief Bio: Parkhurst played for the New England Revolution in MLS before moving abroad in 2008. He became a regular for Nordsjaelland in Denmark before making an ill-fated move to Bundesliga side Augsburg in 2013. He has returned to MLS for the 2014 season.
Quick-Hit Fact: While Parkhurst has played as a center-back for much of his club career, he is expected to compete for playing time as an outside back for the USMNT.
Quick-Hit Stat: Parkhurst is well-decorated. In addition to being MLS's Defender of the Year in 2007, he won a league title in Denmark, two Danish Cups and was named to the Champions League Team of the Week in October 2012.
Brad Evans
11 of 30
Name: Brad Evans
Date of Birth: April 20, 1985
Birthplace: Phoenix, Arizona
Position: Midfielder/Defender
Caps: 17
Club: Seattle Sounders
Brief Bio: Evans has played his entire career in MLS, playing for the Columbus Crew in 2007 and 2008 before moving to the Sounders in 2009.
Quick-Hit Fact: While Evans usually plays in the midfield at the club level, he has played almost exclusively as a right-back for the USMNT.
Quick-Hit Stat: Evans’ one international goal was a game-winner, scored in stoppage time against Jamaica in World Cup qualifying.
Timmy Chandler
12 of 30
Name: Timmy Chandler
Date of Birth: March 29, 1990
Birthplace: Frankfurt, West Germany
Position: Defender
Caps: 10
Club: Nurnberg
Brief Bio: Chandler has only played for two clubs in his career, both in Germany. He began with Eintracht Frankfurt and currently plays for Nurnberg.
Quick-Hit Fact: Chandler’s club was relegated from the Bundesliga on the last day of the season this year. If he wants to stay in the top flight, he’ll need to find a new club.
Quick-Hit Stat: Chandler’s last international cap, in February 2013, was not only the game that cap-tied him to the U.S., but it also happens to be his last appearance for the U.S.
DeAndre Yedlin
13 of 30
Name: DeAndre Yedlin
Date of Birth: July 9, 1993
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington
Position: Defender
Caps: 2
Club: Seattle Sounders
Brief Bio: Yedlin is a product of the University of Akron where he played under current Portland Timbers’ coach Caleb Porter. Yedlin is in his second year of MLS with Seattle.
Quick-Hit Fact: Yedlin represented the U.S. U-20 team in last summer’s U-20 World Cup in Turkey.
Quick-Hit Stat: Yedlin’s first cap for the U.S. was only three months ago in the U.S.’s 2-0 win over South Korea.
John Anthony Brooks
14 of 30
Name: John Anthony Brooks
Date of Birth: January 28, 1993
Birthplace: Berlin, Germany
Position: Defender
Caps: 3
Club: Hertha Berlin
Brief Bio: Brooks is only in his third season as a professional. He has played his entire career for Hertha Berlin.
Quick-Hit Fact: A dual-international, Brooks represented both Germany and the U.S. at the youth level.
Quick-Hit Stat: Brooks started 26 games for Hertha in the 2012-13 campaign, helping the team gain promotion to the Bundesliga. In his Bundesliga debut the next season, he scored the game-winning goal.
Michael Bradley
15 of 30
Name: Michael Bradley
Date of Birth: July 31, 1987
Birthplace: Princeton, New Jersey
Position: Midfielder
Caps: 83
Club: Toronto FC
Brief Bio: Bradley started his career with the New York MetroStars before moving to Europe where he enjoyed success with Heerenveen, Borussia Monchengladbach, Chievo Verona and AS Roma before returning to MLS for the 2014 season.
Quick-Hit Fact: Bradley has played for his father, Bob, with both the MetroStars and the USMNT.
Quick-Hit Stat: Bradley scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Mexico in 2010 World Cup qualifying.
Jermaine Jones
16 of 30
Name: Jermaine Jones
Date of Birth: November 3, 1981
Birthplace: Frankfurt, West Germany
Position: Midfielder
Caps: 39
Club: Besiktas
Brief Bio: Jones has had a well-traveled club career. He has played for Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen and Schalke in the Bundesliga while making short stops at Blackburn in the EPL and Besiktas in Turkey.
Quick-Hit Fact: Jones played several games internationally for Germany, but was never cap-tied.
Quick-Hit Stat: According to Soccerway.com, Jones has received 95 yellow cards in his last 224 club matches.
Kyle Beckerman
17 of 30
Name: Kyle Beckerman
Date of Birth: April 23, 1982
Birthplace: Crofton, Maryland
Position: Midfielder
Caps: 35
Club: Real Salt Lake
Brief Bio: Beckerman has played with three MLS clubs in his professional career, including the Miami Fusion, the Colorado Rapids and, currently, Real Salt Lake.
Quick-Hit Fact: Beckerman was a key part of the U.S.'s Gold Cup championship team in 2013, starting in five of the team's six matches.
Quick-Hit Stat: Beckerman is a five-time MLS All-Star and also captains his club side.
Maurice Edu
18 of 30
Name: Maurice Edu
Date of Birth: April 18, 1986
Birthplace: Fontana, California
Position: Midfielder
Caps: 46
Club: Philadelphia Union
Brief Bio: Edu began his professional career with Toronto FC in MLS before moving abroad in 2008 to Rangers of the SPL. After the team went into administration, Edu spent two seasons at Stoke City in the EPL, but rarely played. He moved back to MLS for the 2014 season.
Quick-Hit Fact: While at Rangers, Edu played with fellow Americans Carlos Bocanegra and Alejandro Bedoya.
Quick-Hit Stat: In two seasons at Stoke, Edu made one appearance and played a total of 10 minutes.
Mix Diskerud
19 of 30
Name: Mix Diskerud
Date of Birth: October 2, 1990
Birthplace: Oslo, Norway
Position: Midfielder
Caps: 17
Club: Rosenborg
Brief Bio: Diskerud represented both Norway and the U.S. at the youth level. He was cap-tied to the U.S. this summer when he appeared for the USMNT in the Gold Cup. He has played for Stabaek and Rosenborg in his professional career.
Quick-Hit Fact: Diskerud's former club, Stabaek, is now managed by Bob Bradley, who gave Diskerud his first senior cap with the USMNT in 2010.
Quick-Hit Stat: Diskerud's first goal for the U.S. was a 93rd-minute equalizer in a 2-2 draw against Russia in November 2012.
Joe Corona
20 of 30
Name: Joe Corona
Date of Birth: July 9, 1990
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
Position: Midfielder
Caps: 11
Club: Tijuana
Brief Bio: Corona has played his entire career for the Tijuana Xolos. He received substantial playing time for the U.S. this summer in the Gold Cup.
Quick-Hit Fact: Corona was eligible to represent El Salvador, Mexico or the United States internationally.
Quick-Hit Stat: Both of Corona’s goals in this summer’s Gold Cup were game-winners.
Brad Davis
21 of 30
Name: Brad Davis
Date of Birth: November 8, 1981
Birthplace: Saint Charles, Missouri
Position: Midfielder
Caps: 14
Club: Houston Dynamo
Brief Bio: Davis has played for four clubs in his career, all in MLS. He started with the New York MetroStars before moving to the Dallas Burn and then the San Jose Earthquakes.
Quick-Hit Fact: Davis has never scored for the USMNT.
Quick-Hit Stat: Davis had two assists in the U.S.’s 3-2 win over Panama in World Cup qualifying, including the assist on the goal that saved Mexico from elimination.
Alejandro Bedoya
22 of 30
Name: Alejandro Bedoya
Date of Birth: April 29, 1987
Birthplace: Englewood, New Jersey
Position: Midfielder
Caps: 26
Club: Nantes
Brief Bio: Bedoya started his professional career with Orebro in Sweden before moving to Scottish side Rangers in 2011. After Rangers went into administration, Bedoya went back to Sweden with Helsingborgs before moving to France and Ligue 1 side Nantes at the beginning of the 2013-14 season.
Quick-Hit Fact: While Bedoya was a favorite of former USMNT coach Bob Bradley, he didn't earn an appearance under current coach Jurgen Klinsmann until January 2013. After the Gold Cup in 2013, he has been a regular in the U.S. lineup.
Quick-Hit Stat: Bedoya has six goals in 32 appearances for Nantes this season.
Graham Zusi
23 of 30
Name: Graham Zusi
Date of Birth: August 18, 1986
Birthplace: Longwood, Florida
Position: Midfielder
Caps: 20
Club: Sporting Kansas City
Brief Bio: Zusi is one of many USMNT players who played collegiately for the University of Maryland. He has played his entire professional career for Sporting KC in MLS.
Quick-Hit Fact: Zusi is a two-time MLS All-Star and was named Sporting KC's Most Valuable Player in both 2012 and 2013.
Quick-Hit Stat: Zusi's goal against Panama in World Cup qualifying saved U.S. arch-rival Mexico from elimination. He has since been called "Saint Zusi" by some Mexican fans.
Julian Green
24 of 30
Name: Julian Green
Date of Birth: June 6, 1995
Birthplace: Tampa, Florida
Position: Midfielder
Caps: 1
Club: Bayern Munich
Brief Bio: Green represented both Germany and the U.S. at the youth level, but filed his one-time switch in March and is now only eligible to represent the U.S. He has played 23 times for Bayern Munich's reserve side this season.
Quick-Hit Fact: Green has never appeared in a Bundesliga match.
Quick-Hit Stat: In Green's only appearance for Bayern Munich's first team, he played the final two minutes of their 3-1 Champions League win over CSKA Moscow in November.
Landon Donovan
25 of 30
Name: Landon Donovan
Date of Birth: March 4, 1982
Birthplace: Ontario, California
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Caps: 156
Club: Los Angeles Galaxy
Brief Bio: Since winning the Golden Ball at the U-17 World Cup in 1999, Landon Donovan has been a mainstay of the USMNT and Major League Soccer. He has been named to MLS's Best XI six times, leads the league in all-time goals and has won five titles.
Quick-Hit Fact: Assuming he makes the final 23-man roster, this will be Donovan's fourth time representing the U.S. at the World Cup.
Quick-Hit Stat: Donovan is the USMNT's all-time leader in goals and assists.
Clint Dempsey
26 of 30
Name: Clint Dempsey
Date of Birth: March 9, 1983
Birthplace: Nacogdoches, Texas
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Caps: 103
Club: Seattle Sounders
Brief Bio: Dempsey was a star with the New England Revolution before departing for England and six seasons with Fulham in the English Premier League. After one additional season with Tottenham in the EPL, he returned to MLS in 2013. He was MLS Rookie of the Year in 2004, has been named U.S. Soccer's Athlete of the Year three times and was twice named Fulham's Player of the Season.
Quick-Hit Fact: Dempsey has starred in his own rap video.
Quick-Hit Stat: Before being passed up by Jozy Altidore in 2013, Dempsey held the record for goals in a single season by an American in Europe.
Jozy Altidore
27 of 30
Name: Jozy Altidore
Date of Birth: November 6, 1989
Birthplace: Livingston, New Jersey
Position: Forward
Caps: 67
Club: Sunderland
Brief Bio: After starting his career with the New York Red Bulls in MLS, Altidore spent several seasons moving around Europe before finally having a career season with 31 goals in all competitions for AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands in the 2012-13 campaign.
Quick-Hit Fact: Altidore played in the 2007 U-20 World Cup with Michael Bradley, Robbie Rogers, Dax McCarty, Freddy Adu and Tony Beltran.
Quick-Hit Stat: Altidore currently holds the record for goals in a single season by an American in Europe.
Chris Wondolowski
28 of 30
Name: Chris Wondolowski
Date of Birth: January 28, 1983
Birthplace: Danville, California
Position: Forward
Caps: 19
Club: San Jose Earthquakes
Brief Bio: Wondolowski has spent his entire career in MLS, playing for two teams, the San Jose Earthquakes and the Houston Dynamo.
Quick-Hit Fact: Wondolowski scored a hat-trick against Belize in July 2013 wearing a jersey on which his name was misspelled "Wondowlowski."
Quick-Hit Stat: Wondolowski led MLS in scoring in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Aron Johannsson
29 of 30
Name: Aron Johannsson
Date of Birth: November 10, 1990
Birthplace: Mobile, Alabama
Position: Forward
Caps: 7
Club: AZ Alkmaar
Brief Bio: Johannsson has played for three clubs in his professional career, all in different countries. He started with Fjolnir in Iceland, then moved to AGF in Denmark and now plays for AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands.
Quick-Hit Fact: Johannsson's nickname is "Bacon" because of his resemblance to movie star Kevin Bacon.
Quick-Hit Stat: Johannsson has 26 goals in all competitions for AZ Alkmaar in the 2013-14 campaign.
Terrence Boyd
30 of 30
Name: Terrence Boyd
Date of Birth: February 16, 1991
Birthplace: Bremen, Germany
Position: Forward
Caps: 13
Club: Rapid Vienna
Brief Bio: Boyd started his career with Hertha Berlin before moving to Borussia Dortmund. He moved from Germany to Austria in 2012 when he joined Rapid Vienna.
Quick-Hit Fact: Boyd has an eye tattooed on his right forearm which he holds over his face after scoring. It is known as the Cyclops.
Quick-Hit Stat: Although Boyd is frequently called in by Klinsmann, he has only earned one start in 13 caps for the U.S. and averages only 17 minutes per appearance.
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