KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- Sporting Kansas City defender Matt Besler joins the U.S. Men's National Team today as one of four additions made by head coach Jurgen Klinsmann on Wednesday for the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup knockout rounds."I'm excited to get another call to represent my country," Besler said. "This is a great opportunity, and I will do everything possible to help our team win this tournament."
Besler, 26, has been added to the United States' 23-player roster for the remainder of the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The U.S. finished atop Group C with wins over Costa Rica, Cuba and Belize and advanced to the quarterfinals to face El Salvador at 3 p.m. CT on Sunday, July 21 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland live on FOX and Univision.
After debuting for the U.S. Men's National Team in January, Besler has seven international appearances in 2013 and has started each of the last four FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
A two-time MLS All-Star selection, Besler was named the MLS Defender of the year and MLSSoccer.com Breakout Player of the Year in 2012.
The Overland Park, Kan. native signed a new contract with the club in December and has started 15 MLS matches in 2013, his fifth professional season after being drafted in the first round of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft out of Notre Dame.
The United States, in the midst of a record eight-match winning streak, are vying for a fifth CONCACAF Gold Cup championship and first since 2007.
The final will be held on July 28 with the regional champion qualifying for a play-off match against the champion of the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup to decide which country will represent CONCACAF in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.
