Los Angeles Galaxy forwards Alan Gordon and Gyasi Zardes were among five players with ties to Southern California who were part of the 23-player roster announced for the U.S. men’s national soccer team’s first qualifying game for the 2018 World Cup.
Defender Michael Orozco, who was born in Orange, midfielder Miguel Ibarra and forward Bobby Wood are also part of the team that will face St. Vincent & the Grenadines next Friday in St. Louis.
Ibarra is a former UC Irvine and Lancaster High School standout who has played three games with the national team, including starting the Feb. 8 exhibition against Panama at StubHub Center. He joined Mexico’s Club Leon earlier this year.
Wood played for the Irvine Strikers club team and now plays for the second-division German team FC Union Berlin. Wood scored in overtime to tie the inaugural CONCACAF Cup at the Rose Bowl Oct. 10 that the U.S. lost to Mexico 3- 2.
—City News Service