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International players Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams lead the 40-man provisional roster submitted Monday for the CONCACAF Nations League, but longtime team standards Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore are not on the list.
Perhaps even more significant, ESPN reported that dual U.S.-Mexico attacker Efraín Álvarez of the LA Galaxy was named to Mexico's provisional roster. Playing in the Nations League would tie him to the Mexican team by FIFA regulations.
The U.S. will face Honduras in the semifinals of the Nations League on June 3, followed by the final and third-place game on June 6 at Denver's Empower Field at Mile High. Mexico will play Costa Rica in the other semifinal.
The teams will narrow their provisional rosters down to 23-player final rosters a week before the semifinals, when the USMNT is scheduled to play a pair of tune-up friendlies in Europe against Switzerland.
Bradley and Altidore have been integral parts of the American team for more than a decade, with Bradley earning 151 caps and Altidore 115. Although U.S. manager Gregg Berhalter has been working with a variety of forward and midfield combinations, any action preceding World Cup qualifying in September is part of the development of the team as it attempts to get back onto the world stage.
Altidore has been trying to get fully healthy as Toronto FC has started MLS play, and he reportedly preferred to stay with his club rather than traveling to Switzerland for a pre-Nations League friendly.
Pulisic will miss the Americans' prep match against Switzerland on May 30, since he will be with Chelsea at the UEFA Champions League final against Manchester City on May 29. Top American goalkeeper Zack Steffen will also miss the Switzerland friendly, since he is Manchester City's No. 2 keeper.
USMNT Roster 2021 For Nations League Finals
Goalkeepers: Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge, Belgium), Sean Johnson (New York City FC), David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake), Zack Steffen (Manchester City), Matt Turner (New England)
Defenders: DeAndre Yedlin (Galatasaray, Turkey), John Brooks (Wolfsburg, Germany), Reggie Cannon (Boavista, Portugal), Sergino Dest (Barcelona, Spain), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Mark McKenzie (Genk, Belgium), Matt Miazga (Anderlecht, Belgium), Tim Ream (Fulham, England), Bryan Reynolds (Roma, Italy), Chris Richards (Hoffenheim, Germany), Antonee Robinson (Fulham, England), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United), Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)
Midfielders: Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg, Austria), Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig, Germany), Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids), Luca de la Torre (Heracles Almelo, Netherlands), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Weston McKennie (Juventus, Italy), Yunus Musah (Valencia, Spain), Owen Otasowie (Wolverhampton, England), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes)
Forwards: Paul Arriola (D.C. United), Tyler Boyd (Sivasspor, Turkey), Konrad de la Fuente (Barcelona, Spain), Daryl Dike (Barnsley, England), Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen, France), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea, England), Giovanni Reyna (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen, Germany), Jordan Siebatcheu (Young Boys, Switzerand), Tim Weah (Lille, France), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew)
