As forecasted, Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando were named to the U.S. men's national team's 23-man roster for this summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup roster Tuesday. The two RSL staples are two of 17 players from last summer's 2014 FIFA World Cup squad in Brazil and are expected to join the USMNT in Nashville, Tenn., on Monday, June 29, in preparation for a July 3 friendly against Guatemala, the final tune-up for the Gold Cup tournament. The U.S. kick off their defense of the Gold Cup — Beckerman and Rimando started the 2013 Gold Cup final victory over Panama two years ago — on July 7 against Honduras at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The U.S. will also face Haiti on Friday, July 10, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., and Panama on Monday, July 13, at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan., in the group stage. In all, 12 CONCACAF teams compete for the Gold Cup trophy including three from North America, five from Central America and four from the Caribbean region. This summer's champ qualifies for a playoff to determine which CONCACAF team will participate in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia, a tournament that features champions from each region in the world, including the defending World Cup champions Germany. By winning the 2013 tournament, the U.S. has qualified for the playoff match, however if it can win this Gold Cup, it will automatically qualify for the 2017 Confederations Cup. Ten players on this roster have won a Gold Cup tournament, including six who were part of the 2013 Cup winners: Beckerman, Rimando, Alejandro Bedoya, Mix Diskerud, Omar Gonzalez and Chris Wondolowski. After U.S. captain Clint Dempsey (15 appearances), Beckerman is tied with midfielder Michael Bradley for Gold Cup caps with 11. Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan will be the No. 1 goalkeeper for this Gold Cup tournament, head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said in the run-up to the USMNT's road wins at the Netherlands and Germany, with Rimando serving as the No. 2. Rimando started five matches in goal for the U.S. in 2015, against Chile, Panama, Denmark, Switzerland and Mexico. The U.S. is 4-2-1 this year, coming off back-to-back wins in Amsterdam against the Netherlands and in Cologne, Germany against last summer's World Cup champions. Beckerman, who started against the Netherlands and came on as a halftime sub against the Germans, will likely have a featured role in the midfield aside Bradley in the Gold Cup. The 33-year-old RSL captain started all three group stage matches in last summer's World Cup in Brazil. RSL forward Alvaro Saborio was named to Costa Rica's 23-man Gold Cup roster Tuesday as well. The 33-year-old striker, who is RSL's all-time leading scorer, was absent from Saturday's 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City due to what coach Jeff Cassar dubbed as "personal reasons." Saborio isn't expected to re-join RSL until late July. U.S. Gold Cup roster by position: Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), William Yarbrough (Club Leon). Defenders: Ventura Alvarado (Club America), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Omar Gonzalez (L.A. Galaxy), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Monchengladbach), Tim Ream (Bolton Wanderers) Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes FC), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstadt), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham), Gyasi Zardes (L.A. Galaxy), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City) Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes). -Chris Kamrani Twitter: @chriskamrani
