Atlanta United’s Caleb Wiley earned his first call-up to the U.S. men’s national team Wednesday ahead of a friendly against Mexico on April 19 in Glendale, Arizona. It will be the 75th meeting between the teams.
Wiley, an 18-year-old native of Atlanta, has three goals and two assists in seven starts this season. He has four goals and four assists in 33 appearances for the Five Stripes. He can play either as a left wing, left wingback or left fullback.
Wiley was the only Atlanta United player called up. U.S. interim manager Anthony Hudson said previously that centerback Miles Robinson wouldn’t be included in this camp. Robinson was included in the team that last month won two Nations League tournament games.
Wiley isn’t expected to miss Atlanta United’s games at Toronto on Saturday and against Chicago on April 25.
Hudson said that Wiley is doing well with Atlanta United and, “Who knows? He could play a part in this game.” Hudson said experiencing a camp and game against Mexico will help Wiley’s development. Wiley is expected to be called into the U.S. team for Under-20 World Cup this summer. The site is to be determined.
Wiley took part in Atlanta United’s academy for the inaugural U-12 team in 2016. He made his professional debut July 11, 2020 with Atlanta United 2. He is the youngest player in club history to appear in a professional game, at 15 years and 206 days.
Other players with ties to Atlanta who were called into the camp: Lilburn’s Sean Johnson, a goalkeeper for Toronto, Lawrenceville’s Walker Zimmerman and Powder Springs’ Shaq Moore, who play for Nashville, and former Atlanta United players Julian Gressel, now with Vancouver, and Brandon Vazquez, who plays for Cincinnati.
Hudson said that Vazquez, who played behind Josef Martinez at Atlanta United from 2017-19, has had to wait for his opportunity and that he’s desperate for him to do well.
“He’s a handful in the box,” Hudson said. “Focus on his game, focus on being present within the game and doing what he’s good at. We believe in him. He’s a very good striker.”
The U.S. is 22-36-16 all-time against Mexico.
USMNT ROSTER BY POSITION (Club/Country; Caps/Goals)
Goalkeepers (3): Drake Callender (Inter Miami; 0/0), Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati; 0/0), Sean Johnson (Toronto FC/CAN; 11/0)
Defenders (9): Sergiño Dest (AC Milan/ITA; 24/2), Aaron Long (LAFC; 31/3), Julian Gressel (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 2/0), Matt Miazga (FC Cincinnati; 22/1), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; 17/1), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United; 0/0), Joshua Wynder (Louisville City; 0/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami; 77/0), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC; 39/3)
Midfielders (6): Kellyn Acosta (LAFC; 57/2), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; 2/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders; 32/0), James Sands (New York City FC; 7/0), Alan Soñora (FC Juárez/MEX; 2/0), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes; 16/0)
Forwards (5): Paul Arriola (FC Dallas; 50/10), Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; 2/0), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas; 17/7), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders; 51/11), Brandon Vazquez (FC Cincinnati; 2/1)
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Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 Atlanta United 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1
March 4 Atlanta United 1, Toronto FC 1
March 11 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte FC 0
March 18 Atlanta United 5, Portland 1
March 25 Columbus 6, Atlanta United 1
April 1 Atlanta United 1, New York Red Bulls 0
April 8 Atlanta United 1, New York City FC 1
April 15 at Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
April 23 vs. Chicago Fire FC, 4:30 p.m., FS1
April 29 at Nashville SC, 1:30 p.m., Fox
May 6 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
May 13 vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 17 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
May 20 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
May 27 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
May 31 vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m., FS1
June 3 at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m.
June 10 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
June 24 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
July 2 vs. Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., Fox
July 8 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 12 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
July 15 vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m., FS1
Aug. 20 at Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA
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