CHICAGO (January 6, 2016) – Chicago Fire midfielder Matt Polster has been selected by United States Men’s National Team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann to the 23-man roster for the first training camp of 2016. The camp will take place at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., from Jan. 11 – Feb. 6 and will feature friendlies against Iceland on Jan. 31 and Canada on Feb. 5.
The roster for this camp includes 11 players, including Polster, who are eligible for the U-23 side that in March takes on Colombia in a home and away playoff for the final berth in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
“It’s an honor to receive this call up,” said Polster. “To play with the senior national team and play for this country at that level is something I’ve always wanted to do. I’m excited for this opportunity to work with Jurgen Klinsmann and his staff and to play with some of the best players in the country."
READ: Polster Reflects on Olympic Qualifying
Polster made his first appearance for the U.S. Under-23 national team against England on Sept. 3, 2015 at Deepdale Stadium in Preston, England and earned the start in the U-23s final tune-up match against Qatar on Sept. 8 at Gigg Lane in Bury. Polster started all five matches for the U.S. in the 2015 CONCACAF Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship, recording an assist in the second group match, a 6-1 win over Cuba on Oct. 3. Most recently, Polster started both of the U-23s friendlies against the Brazilian U-23 team on Nov. 11 and 15.
A native of Las Vegas, Nev., Polster was selected in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. Polster made his professional debut in the season opener against the LA Galaxy on March 6 and started 27 of the 30 matches in which he appeared.
U.S. Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Luis Robles (New York Red Bulls)
DEFENDERS (8): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), Matt Miazga (New York Red Bulls), Eric Miller (Montreal Impact), Tim Parker (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Matt Polster (Chicago Fire), Brandon Vincent (Unattached)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Jermaine Jones (Unattached), Perry Kitchen (Unattached), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution), Tony Tchani (Columbus Crew SC), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC)
FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew SC), Jerome Kiesewetter (VfB Stuttgart), Jordan Morris (Unattached), Khiry Shelton (New York City FC), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
