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The USMNT have been able to take advantage of some relaxed Covid restrictions in Europe. This morning, U.S. Soccer announced that forward Nicholas Gioacchini had been re-added to the roster ahead of friendly matches this week against Jamaica and Northern Ireland. In addition, defender Chris Richards, and forwards Gio Reyna and Josh Sargent will be allowed to travel with the team to Belfast for the match against Northern Ireland.
The change in status for those players comes as Covid restrictions in the areas of Europe where they play have been relaxed, allowing the players to play and return to their teams without a lengthy quarantine. Current temporary FIFA rules in place allow clubs to block the release of players who would be subject to at least a 5 day quarantine on either side of the call-up to international duty.
There will be 26 players in camp this week for the match against Jamaica, which will take place in Wiener Neustadt, Austria on Thursday. Two players, John Brooks and Reggie Cannon, will still depart the team after the Jamaica match, as their areas still require a quarantine period that is longer than 5 days. The rest of the group will travel to Belfast for Sunday’s matchup with Northern Ireland.
The updated roster:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Ethan Horvath (Club Brugge), Chituru Odunze (Leicester City), Zack Steffen (Manchester City)
DEFENDERS (10): John Brooks* (Wolfsburg), Reggie Cannon* (Boavista), Sergiño Dest (FC Barcelona), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Matt Miazga (Anderlecht), Erik Palmer-Brown (Austria Wien), Tim Ream (Fulham FC), Bryan Reynolds (AS Roma), Chris Richards (Hoffenheim), Antonee Robinson (Fulham FC)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Brenden Aaronson (Red Bull Salzburg), Kellyn Acosta (Colorado Rapids), Christian Cappis (Hobro), Luca de la Torre (Heracles), Sebastian Lletget (LA Galaxy), Yunus Musah (Valencia), Owen Otasowie (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
FORWARDS (6): Daryl Dike (Barnsley FC), Nicholas Gioacchini (Caen), Christian Pulisic (Chelsea), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund), Josh Sargent (Werder Bremen), Jordan Siebatcheu (Young Boys)
UPDATES:
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) March 22, 2021
Nicholas Gioacchini is back on the #USMNT roster for both March matches.
Gio Reyna, Chris Richards and Josh Sargent will be allowed to travel to face Northern Ireland on Sunday.
The news is a result of updated quarantine protocols in their respective areas.
Hit the comments to discuss these updated developments.