University of North Carolina Athletics
Hedges, Lichaj, McCarty Earn Spots on USMNT Gold Cup Roster
June 30, 2017 | Men's Soccer
When U.S. Men's National Team head coach Bruce Arena announced the 23-player roster for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup on June 25, three former North Carolina players were among the group.
Midfielder Dax McCarty and defenders Matt Hedges and Eric Lichaj will look to help the United States seek its sixth confederation championship title. Less than a year out from the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Gold Cup provides these players a platform to show their skills to Arena.
The U.S. plays Ghana in an exhibition Saturday in Hartford, Connecticut. It begins the Gold Cup in Nashville on July 8.
Coming off a campaign in which he won Nottingham Forest's Player of the Season award, Lichaj returns to the MNT fold for the first time since a 3-1 friendly win against Puerto Rico on May 22, 2016.
"It's something I'm really proud of to do, to wear the crest," Lichaj said. "So I'm just going to do my hardest and it's an opportunity for everybody that's in the squad to stake their claim for a World Cup spot in a year's time."
Lichaj says he has worked hard to keep himself in the national team picture. And he finds nothing awkward about competing with teammates all angling for the same thing — a World Cup spot.
"That's every team that you play for," he said. "In your club there's always competition for a spot, and all the guys know that. So if you're not on your A-game I don't think you'll be playing many games."
Hedges and McCarty are among 16 players from Major League Soccer, and are included in a group of 12 that will look for their first career Gold Cup appearances.
Both were called to the national team training camp earlier this spring by Arena. Hedges, 27, appeared in the friendly with Venezuela in June, earning his first cap since an appearance against Panama on Feb. 8, 2015.
The former Tar Heel greats were reserves in the two recent World Cup qualifying matches. Both were present the night Michael Bradley scored in the 1-1 draw at Mexico on June 11. McCarty served in the same role three nights earlier during a 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago.
McCarty is in his first season with the Chicago Fire after an All-Star career with the New York Red Bulls. Hedges was the 2016 MLS Defender of the Year with FC Dallas.
Midfielder Dax McCarty and defenders Matt Hedges and Eric Lichaj will look to help the United States seek its sixth confederation championship title. Less than a year out from the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Gold Cup provides these players a platform to show their skills to Arena.
The U.S. plays Ghana in an exhibition Saturday in Hartford, Connecticut. It begins the Gold Cup in Nashville on July 8.
Coming off a campaign in which he won Nottingham Forest's Player of the Season award, Lichaj returns to the MNT fold for the first time since a 3-1 friendly win against Puerto Rico on May 22, 2016.
"It's something I'm really proud of to do, to wear the crest," Lichaj said. "So I'm just going to do my hardest and it's an opportunity for everybody that's in the squad to stake their claim for a World Cup spot in a year's time."
Lichaj says he has worked hard to keep himself in the national team picture. And he finds nothing awkward about competing with teammates all angling for the same thing — a World Cup spot.
"That's every team that you play for," he said. "In your club there's always competition for a spot, and all the guys know that. So if you're not on your A-game I don't think you'll be playing many games."
Hedges and McCarty are among 16 players from Major League Soccer, and are included in a group of 12 that will look for their first career Gold Cup appearances.
Both were called to the national team training camp earlier this spring by Arena. Hedges, 27, appeared in the friendly with Venezuela in June, earning his first cap since an appearance against Panama on Feb. 8, 2015.
The former Tar Heel greats were reserves in the two recent World Cup qualifying matches. Both were present the night Michael Bradley scored in the 1-1 draw at Mexico on June 11. McCarty served in the same role three nights earlier during a 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago.
McCarty is in his first season with the Chicago Fire after an All-Star career with the New York Red Bulls. Hedges was the 2016 MLS Defender of the Year with FC Dallas.
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