Evans, Johnson Called In to U.S. National Team

RENTON, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC announced today that midfielder Brad Evans and forward Eddie Johnson have been called in by the U.S. National Team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Honduras as well as a friendly against Canada. The 25-player roster will report to the team’s January camp beginning Monday, January 7, at the National Training Center in Carson, Calif.

Evans, 27, has six caps for the United States. He was called in by the U.S. National Team in January 2012 for friendlies against Venezuela and Panama. Evans’ first three appearances for the USMNT came in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup, with his last competitive match against Haiti at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. on July 11, 2009. 

Johnson, 28, leads the roster with 44 caps and 14 goals for the United States. He helped the team advance to the Final Round of qualifying with two goals and one assist in matches against Antigua and Barbuda and Guatemala in October. Johnson made his national team debut in 2004, and his call-up last October was his first national team action since 2010.

"There is a tremendous amount of talent in the player pool. We follow these players very carefully, and the group coming in is the next line to challenge the players ahead of them in the National Team," said head coach Jurgen Klinsmann. "This is absolutely a huge opportunity, and we're looking forward to working with them. We are getting ready for the friendly against Canada, and also the big World Cup qualifier in Honduras, so these are going to be an important few weeks of preparation." 

Evans and Johnson will join the U.S. National Team for a friendly against Canada on January 29 at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston as well as the first match of the Final Round of World Cup qualifying on February 6 against Honduras at Estadio Olimpico in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. 

Evans and Johnson will join Sounders FC preseason training in February. 

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION - Detailed Roster

GOALKEEPERS (3): Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire)
DEFENDERS (9): Steven Beitashour (San Jose Earthquakes), Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), A.J. DeLaGarza (LA Galaxy), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Connor Lade (New York Red Bulls), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Justin Morrow (San Jose Earthquakes), Jeff Parke (Philadelphia Union)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (out of contract), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Joshua Gatt (Molde), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (5): Juan Agudelo (Chivas USA), Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo), Edson Buddle (Colorado Rapids), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)