Sporting Kansas City captain Matt Besler is a member of the U.S. Men’s National Team roster for this week’s international friendly against Mexico, U.S. Soccer announced.
The CONCACAF rivals will play at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday live on FOX Sports 1, UniMas and UDN from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
“I’m excited to join the national team,” Besler said. “It’s always an honor to represent my country and games against Mexico definitely carry extra meaning for our team. This will be a good test for us as we continue to prepare to defend our Gold Cup title.”
Besler has made 25 career international appearances for the United States since his debut in 2013, including starts in all four U.S. MNT matches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The 28-year-old made his 150th MLS regular season start for Sporting KC last night and recorded game-winning assists in the team’s previous two matches.
An Overland Park, Kan., native, Besler is in his seventh professional season since being selected in the first round of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft out of Notre Dame. He is a three-time MLS All-Star (2011, 2013, 2014) and has twice been named to the MLS Best XI (2012, 2013) to go along with an MLS Defender of the Year honor in 2012.
Besler is one of eight defenders on Jurgen Klinsmann’s 22-player roster. He will re-join Sporting Kansas City on Thursday in Los Angeles in preparation for the team’s Week 7 road match against reigning MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy on Saturday.
The United States — currently ranked No. 27 by FIFA — is unbeaten (2-0-3) in their past five matches against Mexico since falling to El Tri in the 2011 Gold Cup final. Mexico, No. 18 in the world rankings, is coming off a 1-0 win over Paraguay at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City last month.
– Story from Sporting KC