29 May, 2017
Joining Yedlin on the list of Europe-based stars yet to work under the new US boss are goalkeeper Brad Guzan, defender Timmy Chandler, full-back Fabian Johnson and forward Bobby Wood.
Missing from the 27-man roster is Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Jermaine Jones, often a regular in worldwide games.
Arena's list also includes four players who have yet to play in a World Cup qualifier - goalkeepers Nick Rimando and Ethan Horvath, defender Matt Hedges and midfielder Dax McCarty - as well as national team stalwarts like Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley, Tim Howard and Christian Pulisic.
"That's certainly going to be challenging", Arena said.
Only three days later, the US will seek its first three points away to Mexico in World Cup Qualifying.
IF YOU WERE HOPING to see some new names, or perhaps a few adventurous selections, from United States men's national team coach Bruce Arena, sorry.
Arena named 27 players to the roster, most of whom were part of the squad in the last set of qualifiers, against Honduras and Panama.
But Arena's team also includes several returnees, among them forward Clint Dempsey, who leads the team with 38 appearances and 18 goals in World Cup qualifiers; midfielder Christian Pulisic, who had a goal and three assists in the two March games; and defender DaMarcus Beasley, who is bidding to become the first US player to appear in five different qualifying tournaments. Hedges was injured earlier this year and missed friendlies against Serbia and Jamaica.
Also named to roster were three players now with Mexican clubs - former Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), former Chivas USA player Jorge VillafaƱa (Santos Laguna) and former Galaxy academy player Paul Arriola (Tijuana) - as well as national team veterans Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley and Tim Howard. "Bringing him in is a plus, it'll get him a foot in the door and hopefully allow him to move forward with a bigger role in the US team". "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". "He's still been a good player in Major League Soccer, and that's why we still have him on the roster". We haven't found any players that can push DaMarcus out of the position he has right now with the national team. He's not only a good player, he's a good teammate and he's going to do whatever is necessary to make our team successful.
"It's a real plus to have him, and it would be a fabulous accomplishment if he becomes the first US player to appear in qualifiers for five different World Cups". The fourth-place nation will play off against a team from Asia for another berth.