Bill Hamid, seen here against Toronto FC this month, has made two appearances for the U.S. national team in his career. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press via AP)
D.C. United’s Bill Hamid missed the U.S. national soccer team’s past two winter gatherings because of knee injuries, ill-timed setbacks that undermined his efforts to enter the 2018 World Cup roster conversation.
He’ll finally get a chance to make a fresh impression this summer.
On Sunday, U.S. Coach Bruce Arena named Hamid and 15 other MLS players to the 23-man squad for the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the biennial championship for teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean. The 12-nation tournament will begin July 7 and pass through 14 U.S. venues.
With many of his regulars in need of rest amid club demands and World Cup qualifying duty, Arena turned to an MLS player pool in mid-season fitness and form, as well as four players from the Mexican league and three from European clubs.
Hamid will battle New York City FC’s Sean Johnson for No. 2 on the depth chart behind veteran Brad Guzan, who will join Atlanta United next month after nine years in England.
Tim Howard, the first-choice keeper for a third World Cup cycle, was allowed to remain with the Colorado Rapids. Real Salt Lake’s Nick Rimando, the primary No. 3 keeper in recent years, and Ethan Horvath, a prized prospect seeking to win the starting job with Belgium’s Club Brugge, were passed over.
Howard and Guzan seem certain of remaining at the top of the depth chart through the World Cup in Russia (assuming the United States qualifies), but by next summer, they will be 39 and 33, respectively. Rimando is 38. Horvath, 22, and Hamid, 26, are among the young candidates in the mix.
Hamid has received several national team call-ups over the years but appeared in only two matches, against Venezuela in 2012 and Ireland in 2014.
Arena, however, might tweak the roster before Tuesday’s formal deadline because FC Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez is awaiting FIFA approval to switch affiliation to the United States from Mexico.
The Gold Cup will provide a platform for many secondary players seeking to catch Arena’s eye heading into the final stretch of World Cup qualifiers in September and October and the build-up to soccer’s spectacle next year.
“It’s a good roster with a nice blend of experienced, veteran players and a good group of newcomers as well,” Arena said. “It will be a competitive camp. They’re going to be highlight motivated and they have an opportunity to make a statement.”
Arena selected the players from a 40-man provisional list, which was submitted several weeks ago. Aside from Howard, he did not choose regulars Michael Bradley, Darlington Nagbe, Christian Pulisic, Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey. However, coaches of the quarterfinal teams are allowed to make as many as six changes after the group stage. Some from that aforementioned group are likely to arrive late.
Pulisic is unlikely to be among them: His Bundesliga employer, Borussia Dortmund, dives into preseason matches in a few weeks and, although clubs cannot block call-ups for a confederation championship like the Gold Cup, Arena seems inclined to let him work in Germany before rejoining the national team in late August for World Cup qualifiers.
“I will wait and see how the tournament develops,” Arena said of the potential roster changes, “before I make any of those decisions.”
Notable call-ups:
>> Kenny Saief, a 23-year-old Israeli-American midfielder who last week received FIFA approval to switch allegiances to the U.S. team after playing for Israel’s junior national teams.
>> Dom Dwyer, Sporting Kansas City’s English-born ace striker who became a U.S. citizen this spring.
>> Eric Lichaj, a full-time starter at outside back for English second-division Nottingham Forest.
>> Matt Miazga, a 21-year-old center back whom English giant Chelsea loan to Dutch side Vitesse this past season.
The Americans will open training camp Monday in Nashville, the site of their July 8 group opener against Panama. They’ll play a tournament tuneup against Ghana this Saturday in East Hartford, Conn.
The other U.S. group matches are against Martinique on July 12 in Tampa and Nicaragua on July 15 in Cleveland. The elimination stage would take the Americans to Philadelphia (quarterfinal), Arlington, Tex. (semifinal) and Santa Clara, Calif. (final). Mexico, which will send a secondary squad, is the reigning champion.
U.S. ROSTER
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Atlanta United), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (New York City FC).
Defenders: Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Matt Hedges (FC Dallas), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest), Matt Miazga (Chelsea), Justin Morrow (Toronto FC), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City).
Midfielders: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Paul Arriola (Tijuana), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union), Joe Corona (Tijuana), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Kelyn Rowe (New England Revolution), Kenny Saief (Gent), Gyasi Zardes (L.A. Galaxy).
Forwards: Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution), Dom Dwyer (Sporting Kansas City), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders).
DC United’s Bill Hamid among 16 MLS players named to US Gold Cup squad – Washington Post