Bulls Abroad: Aaron Long will be the only New York Red Bull at USMNT’s 2019 January camp

Newly-appointed US Men’s National Team head coach Gregg Berhalter has called his first squad for the traditional USMNT January training camp - an exercise that will culminate in the team’s first games on Berhalter’s watch: friendlies against Panama (January 27) and Costa Rica (February 2).

The January camp is outside FIFA’s mandated windows for international games, so clubs are under no obligation to release players to USMNT. As such, it is generally restricted to players attached to teams that are not active in January. That usually means the roster is predominantly comprised of players from MLS clubs. In this instance, Berhalter’s entire 27-man squad is selected from the rosters of teams in MLS. Per US Soccer, one additional player will join the squad before January 6: the smart money is on a late arrival to MLS.

Despite the all-MLS squad, Berhalter has selected just one player from the league’s best team in 2018 - the New York Red Bulls. And only one from the league’s second-best team and reigning MLS Cup champion, Atlanta United.

Aaron Long will be RBNY’s lone representative at the 2019 USMNT January training camp. Greg Garza doesn’t even play for Atlanta any longer - he was recently traded to FC Cincinnati.

The squad in full:

GOALKEEPERS: Alex Bono (Toronto FC/CAN; 1/0), Sean Johnson (New York City FC; 5/0), Tyler Miller (LAFC; 0/0), Zack Steffen (Columbus Crew SC; 6/0)

DEFENDERS: Reggie Cannon (FC Dallas; 2/0), Greg Garza (FC Cincinnati; 10/0), Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Nick Lima (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls; 2/0), Daniel Lovitz (Montreal Impact/CAN; 0/0), Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Keegan Rosenberry (Colorado Rapids; 0/0), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Walker Zimmerman (LAFC; 4/1)

MIDFIELDERS: Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids; 23/2), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 17/2), Corey Baird (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 142/17), Russell Canouse (D.C. United; 0/0), Marky Delgado (Toronto FC/CAN; 6/0), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy; 5/1), Djordje Mihailovic (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders FC; 5/0), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC; 11/0)

FORWARDS: Jeremy Ebobisse (Portland Timbers; 0/0), Christian Ramirez (LAFC; 0/0), Gyasi Zardes (Columbus Crew SC; 40/6)

Players report to camp on January 6. With games on January 27 and February 2 marking the end of the exercise, RBNY fans should expect Aaron Long to be a little late to his team’s pre-season training camp (expected to be in Arizona, starting around the last week of January).