Atlanta United’s Guzan called into USMNT

Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan is shown in this file photo training with the U.S. men's national team. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post)

Credit: Helen H. Richardson

Credit: Helen H. Richardson

Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan is shown in this file photo training with the U.S. men's national team. (Photo By Helen H. Richardson/ The Denver Post)

Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan was one of 26 players called into the United States men’s national team training camp by manager Bruce Arena on Sunday ahead of two crucial World Cup qualifying games.

Guzan has 57 appearances with the national team, including 14 in World Cup qualifiers, and five with Atlanta United.

The U.S., in third in the CONCACAF qualifying group with a 2-2-2 record, will play Costa Rica (3-1-2) on Friday at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. and at Honduras (1-3-2) on Sept. 5.

Other goalkeepers called into camp include Colorado’s Tim Howard and Real Salt Lake’s Nick Rimando.

“It’s two big games for us,” Guzan said. “We want to make sure we get off to a good start with Costa Rica at home. We know qualifiers are never easy, so it will be a difficult game. After that, we will look forward to going down to Honduras and getting a result there.”

Two more Atlanta United players, Miguel Almiron (Paraguay) and Josef Martinez (Venezuela), were also called up by their national teams.

U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; WCQ Caps/Goals) GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC; 14/0), Tim Howard (Colorado; 36/0), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake; 0/0)

DEFENDERS (9): DaMarcus Beasley (Houston; 34/6),Matt Besler (Sporting K.C.; 11/1), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG; 22/2), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca; 15/0), Matt Hedges (Dallas; 0/0), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest; 0/0), Tim Ream (Fulham; 5/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna; 3/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting K.C.; 18/3)

MIDFIELDERS (9): Kellyn Acosta (Dallas; 4/0),Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 3/1),Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia; 9/0), Michael Bradley (Toronto; 35/7), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Mönchengladbach; 16/1), Dax McCarty (Chicago; 0/0), Darlington Nagbe (Portland; 7/0), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund; 9/5), Cristian Roldan (Seattle; 0/0)

FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Toronto; 38/16), Clint Dempsey (Seattle; 39/18), Jordan Morris (Seattle; 3/0), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose; 0/0), Bobby Wood (Hamburg; 10/4)