Chicago: Gaga Slonina is among nine players from eliminated teams in Major League Soccer invited to fitness training by the USA Soccer Federation ahead of the national team’s World Cup roster announcement on November 9.
Defenders Aaron Long, Shaq Moore, DeAndre Yedlin and Walker Zimmerman also were invited to the training camp that started Tuesday in Frisco, Texas, along with midfielder Cristian Roldan and forwards Paul Arriola, Jesús Ferreira and Jordan Morris
The players’ inclusion does not indicate they have earned spots on coach Gregg Berhalter’s 26-man roster. The majority of the roster is expected to be from European clubs, which have matches through November 13.
The Chelsea-bound USA goalkeeper, Slonina, has never played for the national team. Matt Turner of Arsenal, Zack Steffen of Middlesbrough, Ethan Horvath of Luton and Sean Johnson of New York City have been the top four goalkeepers in the US player pool. Johnson and Los Angeles midfielder Kellyn Acosta are on teams that have reached this Sunday's MLS conference finals and hope to be in the championship game on November 5.
Cincinnati forward Brandon Vazquez was not included.
Slonina, 18, debuted for the Chicago Fire in August 2021 and agreed this past August to a contract with Chelsea under which he was loaned to the Fire for the rest of the 2022 MLS season. Slonina missed Chicago’s last two MLS games because of a head injury and has not played a competitive match since September 17.
Morris and Roldan last played on October 9, Long, Moore and Zimmerman on October 15, Yedlin on October 17 and Arriola and Ferreira on Sunday.
Back in the World Cup after missing the 2018 tournament, the US opens against Wales on November 21, plays England in a Black Friday matchup four days later and closes group play on November 29 against Iran.
The training camp roster:
Goalkeepers: Gaga Slonina (Chicago)
Defenders: Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Shaq Moore (Nashville), DeAndre Yedlin (Miami), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville)
Midfielder: Cristian Roldan (Seattle)
Forwards: Paul Arriola (Dallas), Jesús Ferreira (Dallas), Jordan Morris (Seattle)
