On Friday, the US Men’s National Team visit Havana for the first exhibition match on Cuban soil since 1947 -- and only the second friendly ever between the two. (Though the Red, White and Blue played in Havana in 2008, earning a 1-0 victory, that match was a qualifier for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.)
Jurgen Klinsmann has assembled a 22-man roster for the historic trip (including 8 MLS players). United defender Steve Birnbaum is one of the 15 players on the roster who were part of the World Cup Qualifying wins in September, while Danny Williams and Timmy Chandler have both been summoned for international duty for the first time since last May.
Cuba, who were the first Caribbean side to play in a World Cup in 1938 (although that was by default, as all but two teams from the Americas withdrew when the tournament was played in France). Still, they acquitted themselves well early on, drawing Romania 3-3 before beating them 2-1 in a replay to reach the quarterfinals. Cuba lost the quarterfinal match 8-0 to Sweden and haven't been back to a World Cup since.
Cuba have seen an upward trend in recent years, though, winning the 2012 Caribbean Cup and reaching the Gold Cup quarterfinals in 2013 and 2015 despite the defections of four players during the 2015 tournament.
After the historic match on the island, the USMNT head north to Washington in preparation for their second friendly match of the international break against New Zealand at RFK Stadium on Tuesday, Oct. 11.
Full Rosters
United States
GOALKEEPERS (3): David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Ethan Horvath (Molde FK), William Yarbrough (Club Leon)
DEFENDERS (7): Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin),Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Moenchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union/withdrawn with injury), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Lynden Gooch (Sunderland), Perry Kitchen (Hearts), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Danny Williams (Reading)
FORWARDS (5): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jordan Morris(Seattle Sounders FC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (Hamburg SV)
Cuba (26-man provisional roster)
GOALKEEPERS (4): Sandy Sánchez (LTU), Diosvelis Guerra (ART), Delvis Lumpuy (VCL), Geandri Megret (GTM)
DEFENDERS (10): Daniel Alarcó (LHA), Dayron Blanco (LTU), Yaisniel Nápoles (CMG), Carlos Domingo Francisco (SCU), David Urgelles (GTM), Yasmani López (CAV), Erick Rizo (SCU), Yosel Piedra (VCL), Eugenio Palmero (SSP), Andy Baquero (LHA)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Daniel Luis Sáez (LHA), Alberto Gómez (GTM), Roberto Peraza (LHA), Arichell Hernández (VCL), Eddy Sanamé (LHA), Osmany Capote (VCL), Roberney Caballero (VCL)
FORWARDS (5): Duxney Espinosa (CMG), Eddy Gelkis Olivares (SCU), Maykel Reyes (Cruz Azul Hidalgo/Mexico), Yoelvis González (VCL), Yasnai Rivero (LHA)
