Dax is back with the U.S. Men's National Team.
Chicago Fire midfielder Dax McCarty has once again been called into head coach Bruce Arena's squad, this time for a pair of pivotal 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches in the month of June. After facing Venezuela in an international friendly on June 3, the U.S. will return to qualifying competition when it hosts Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday, June 8 in Denver, Colo. (7 p.m. CT). Following that game, the U.S. will head to Estadio Azteca for a qualifying showdown against rival Mexico on Sunday, June 11 (7:30 p.m. CT).
Head to Upcoming Watch Parties at Heineken Pub97!
Presently, the U.S. sits fourth in CONCACAF in the final round of World Cup qualifying, with a record of 1-2-1 (4 points).
“I think we have a good group,” Bruce Arena said on Sunday's announcement. “I’m still in the early goings with this team and I haven’t seen all of our players, so this camp gives me the opportunity to see six new faces we haven’t had in with the team yet, which is valuable. It’s also great that we’re able to bring back 21 players that have been in with our program already in 2017. We have a roster that has good balance all over, we have good young players and hopefully it’s a team we can put together to get us points in both games.”
McCarty's first season in Chicago has seen him play every minute of the Fire's 13 games to date, recording three assists while helping the Men In Red match the best 13-game start (24 points) in club history. He has six career caps with the U.S. Men's National Team, most recently in a friendly played earlier this year (Feb. 3) vs. Jamaica.
McCarty's USMNT duties will cause him to miss two upcoming club matches: a road contest at Orlando City SC (Sunday, June 4) and a home date against Atlanta United FC (Saturday, June 10).
Fans are invited to watch all the upcoming World Cup qualifying action at Heineken Pub97 (3626 N Talman Ave., Chicago), with special raffle giveaways lined up for both U.S. match.
See below the complete U.S. squad called into action by Bruce Arena:
GOALKEEPERS (4): Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC), Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (11): DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Tim Ream (Fulham), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund)
FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Bobby Wood (Hamburg SV)
