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Boston College alum Alejandro Bedoya has evolved into a reliable veteran presence for the US men’s national team. Today, in his 62nd appearance with the team, he’ll wear the captain’s armband for the first time from the opening whistle:
And so it begins! Introducing your #USMNT starting XI for our #GoldCup2017 opener vs. Panama.
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) July 8, 2017
Lineup notes: https://t.co/sW4HHMO8dm pic.twitter.com/ZcFuP2SOLD
The US takes on Panama with opening kickoff taking place at around 5 PM on Fox. It’s the opening game of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The US is in a group with Panama, Nicaragua and Martinique. The Americans’ roster is a mix of veterans and newcomers, as they look to give some new players a shot at earning a spot for the big World Cup qualifying games this fall.
One year out from the World Cup, Bedoya is in a good position to earn a spot on his second straight World Cup roster (assuming the US qualifies). But a strong Gold Cup performance could help solidify him as part of Bruce Arena’s plans.
Congratulations to Alejandro and best of luck in the tournament!