The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just a few months away from kicking off in North America. For Sounders FC midfielder Cristian Roldan, it’s an opportunity to represent his country in the biggest sporting competition on the planet for the second time. And after breaking back into the U.S. Men’s National Team picture over the past year, he is in contention to play for the Stars & Stripes on home soil, including a group stage match in Seattle.
On March 17, Roldan received a call-up to the U.S. Men’s National Team’s March training camp, where he will have the chance to participate in friendlies against No. 9 Belgium on March 28 (12:30 p.m. PT) and No. 6 ranked Portugal on the 31st (4 p.m. PT).
This marks the midfielder’s fourth consecutive selection with the U.S. squad.
“It was really nice to receive that call-up,” said Roldan. “Soccer changes very fast, and you have to take advantage of the moments that are given to you.”
A call-up to a USMNT training camp is an honor and opportunity in itself to prove yourself on the international stage. But, the upcoming friendlies against these top-tier opponents mean even more.
The March camp is the last time the USMNT will get together before the FIFA World Cup roster is announced in the coming months.
“I'm really excited to go with the national team, give myself a good chance of making the World Cup squad. But performances need to get better, not only from myself, but from our team,” said Roldan. “And then I'm trying to focus on the Sounders. And if I continue to play well here, I will give myself the best chance of going into a World Cup.”
Of the 27 players called into camp, Roldan’s consistency in the USMNT pool puts him in a solid position to secure a spot on the 26-man roster. Still, he needs to put his best foot forward in these final moments to firmly achieve a place in the biggest tournament in the world.
“I need to show up. I need to be present. I need to be engaged and be ready if my name is called upon,” said Roldan.
Sounders Assistant Coach Freddy Juarez is certain Roldan can make that happen after seeing him grow into a reliable holding midfielder for the Sounders over the last few seasons.
“With our team, what we ask of our pivots and our center mids is a lot of is dictated through them. So the responsibility of getting on the ball in tight areas,” said Juarez. “In the last three years that Preki has worked with him, has really helped develop him. Because, to be fair, in college, he played midfield, but when he got here, he got away from the midfield, so it's almost like he's new to the position, but you've seen a lot of growth in that direction, just because of the training and style of play.”
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Juarez specifically brought up last season and the quality Roldan displayed in the 46 matches he appeared in for the Sounders — including the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup fixtures.
“I think it just really gave him confidence, playing against some of the best midfielders, like PSG, [for example], like, ‘Hey, you know what? I am actually better.’ And I think that's kind of been his driving force.”
Roldan has World Cup (2022) and Club World Cup (2025) experience. He understands what it takes to win big tournaments at a club and international level with titles in the Concacaf Champions Cup (2022), Leagues Cup (2025), MLS Cup (2016, ‘19), and the CONCACAF Gold Cup (2017, ‘21). He is a veteran in the game with a leadership mindset.
“There's experience, there's a winning mentality. He's an unselfish player,” said Juarez. “So he's going to help.”
The reality is, he's seen it so much — the ups and downs — that he knows how to navigate through those moments," he continued. "And I think that for me, that leadership part is huge for a World Cup setting.”
