Park City » Together, they're known simply as the national team. But the men who will represent the United States in a World Cup qualifying soccer game against El Salvador at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday are more international than ever.

Which might help explain why they have become so good.

With perhaps more American players than ever finding their way into some of the top teams and best leagues around the world in recent years, coach Bob Bradley and his staff have reaped the benefits of having better and more experienced players from which to choose for the national team. Fourteen of the 24 men on the roster for the upcoming game play for international pro teams, including five who work in the prestigious English Premier League, and one -- standout central defender Oguchi Onyewu -- who recently joined powerful AC Milan in Italy.

"It helps a lot," said forward Charlie Davies, who recently moved to FC Sochaux in France's Ligue One. "To go overseas where everybody eats, sleeps and drinks soccer, it's very important. And you get into that atmosphere and that environment, it's only going to help you."

The number of Americans playing internationally has steadily increased in recent years. Only six players on the 1998 World Cup roster were employed by international teams, while 11 dotted the 2002 and 2006 World Cup rosters. Now, the Americans seem destined to field a 23-man team for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa that features more players employed by international teams than not, for the first time.

"It's a good thing when guys are motivated and feel like that's the next step in their career," Bradley said. While it's fine if players choose to remain home and play in Major League Soccer, the coach said watching players pursue their soccer dreams around the world "shows us that players are moving forward with their careers, getting experience, playing at a higher level, taking more responsibility in their teams."

All of which makes it a bit more challenging for Bradley to keep track of everybody.

With several dozen players on the national team radar at any particular time, Bradley and his staff arguably have a tougher job than some of his predecessors in making sure they see all of the players enough -- in time zones around the world -- to evaluate them. Fortunately, technology such as digital video recorders, the Internet and broader television exposure for foreign leagues has eased the burden somewhat.

Meanwhile, the players who make the jump often feel empowered by finding they can compete at the sport's highest levels, and that can translate to improved performances with the national team.

Forward Jozy Altidore, for example, has enjoyed a sparkling start with Hull City in the Premier League, after being loaned by Villareal in Spain, while Davies has done the same with Sochaux. Veterans such as goalkeeper Tim Howard and midfielder Clint Dempsey have played overseas for years -- Howard now at Everton and Dempsey at Fulham, both in the Premier League -- and have been major contributors to the national team.

"For me, for example, playing in a league like that against the best strikers, the best defenders, the best midfielders," Altidore said. "Anything you need to learn, you should be able to get it there, in terms of sharpness, moving off the ball. I think you combine everything and more in that league, and it's very special."

mcl@sltrib.com