Two FC Dallas players called into U.S. Men’s National Team January Camp
It isn't the two FC Dallas players you are used to seeing called into camps either.
FC Dallas forward Bernard Kamungo and defender Nkosi Tafari have been called up to the U.S. Men’s National Team January Camp that will be held in Orlando, FL, from January 8-16, 2024. This is both Kamungo and Tafari’s first-ever Senior USMNT call-up.
Kamungo and Tafari are two of the 25 MLS-based players to be called into the camp.
The training camp will run from Jan. 8-16 in Orlando before the USMNT faces Slovenia on Saturday, January 20 at Toyota Field in San Antonio, Texas (TNT, Telemundo, Universo, Max and Peacock. Live Spanish-language audio for the match will be available on Fútbol de Primera Radio Network.)
The call-up for both players was well-earned after the solid 2023 seasons that both had with FC Dallas.
Kamungo placed No.19 in Major League Soccer’s 2023 22 Under 22 list, which honors the best young players in the league. He featured in 16 MLS regular season matches for Dallas, scoring six goals and led all MLS players with at least six goals in goals/90 minutes (1.1).
The 22-year old made his United States debut on October 11, 2023, where he assisted the game-winning goal in the 90th minute against Mexico. Kamungo assisted the United States’ second goal in the United States’ 4-1 win against Japan on October 17. Kamungo also featured in friendlies against Iraq and Morocco in November 2023 in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain.
Tafari earns his first United States Men’s National Team call-up after playing a career-high 37 games across all competitions during the campaign, starting 33 regular season matches and all three playoff features. Tafari anchored one of the best defenses in MLS, allowing the third-fewest goals in the regular season (40) and ranking third in GAA (1.00). The Manhattan, NY native recorded three goals and four assists in the 2023 regular season.
DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Club/Country; Caps/Goals)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Drake Callender (Inter Miami; 0/0), Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati; 0/0), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (10): Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), DeJuan Jones (New England Revolution; 7/0), Shaq Moore (Nashville SC; 17/1), Ian Murphy (FC Cincinnati; 0/0), Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders; 0/0), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati; 27/3), James Sands (New York City FC; 13/0), Nkosi Tafari (FC Dallas; 0/0), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; 3/0), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United; 1/0)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Joshua Atencio (Seattle Sounders; 0/0), Aziel Jackson (St. Louis City; 0/0), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; 0/0), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; 4/0), Timmy Tillman (LAFC; 0/0), Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew; 0/0)
FORWARDS (6): Esmir Bajraktarevic (New England Revolution; 0/0), Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes; 8/1), Bernard Kamungo (FC Dallas; 0/0), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; 0/0), Duncan McGuire (Orlando City; 0/0), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps/CAN; 0/0)
This is more extreme than usual - only 8 of the players called up have a prior cap. Cowell is the only attacker with a previous cap and Morris is the only midfielder. Going to be asking a lot of this group to play coordinated soccer.
So this is an all MLS call up?