Philly Sports Jabronis
Report From Philadelphia Union
CHESTER, Pa. – Philadelphia Union midfielder Alejandro Bedoya was named to the United States Men’s National Team roster for the two FIFA World Cup qualifying matches U.S. Soccer announced on Sunday.
Bedoya joins the United States’ 26-man squad in CONCACAF’s semifinal round of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The U.S. will travel to face St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday in Kingstown before hosting Trinidad and Tobago on Sept. 6 in Jacksonville, Florida.
Bedoya has earned 53 international caps including four FIFA World Cup appearances. At the international level Bedoya continues to be an indispensable option for USMNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, coming in with 53 career caps over the last seven years. Bedoya, who was born in Englewood, N.J., appeared in all four World Cup matches for the USMNT in 2014, and was a driving force in the team’s semifinal run during the 2016 Copa America Centenario. Overall, he’s scored two goals and handed out eight assists in his international career.
The Union acquired Bedoya via the Allocation Process after the club secured the #1 spot in the Allocation Ranking Order in a trade with the Chicago Fire. Since joining the Union, Bedoya has logged 342 minutes in four starts and Philadelphia is 3-1 since Bedoya entered the starting lineup.
The United States currently occupies second place in Group C. The club is three points behind leaders Trinidad and Tobago and a point ahead of third-place Guatemala. USMNT has two matches remaining in the semifinal round. The top two teams from the group will advance to the “Hexagonal,” the final round of World Cup qualifying.
