Darlington Nagbe Named to USMNT World Cup Qualifying Roster

Darlington Nagbe's budding national team career continues over the upcoming international dates as the Portland Timbers midfielder will join the United States Men's National Team for their World Cup Qualifying matches against Guatemala on March 25th and March 29th. The pictures will see Nagbe and friends head to Guatemala for the first match, then return to the site of Nagbe's MLS Cup triumph at Crew Stadium for the second.

How Nagbe will fit into Jurgen Klinsmann's side remains up in the air. To date, Nagbe has played as both a winger and a more central attacking midfielder for the US. Moreover, he has yet to get a start from Klinsmann, instead being limited to twenty nine minutes or less in each of his appearances so far.

Since making his USMNT debut last November, Nagbe has been capped four times, making him the first MLS Timbers player to be capped by the US.

Given the timing of the matches, Nagbe should be back with the Timbers in time for their next match on April 3rd against Orlando City SC.

The Timbers' press release:

TIMBERS MIDFIELDER DARLINGTON NAGBE NAMED TO U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER FOR 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Timbers midfielder Darlington Nagbe has been named to the United States Men’s National Team roster for a pair of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Guatemala on March 25 and March 29, it was announced today.

The United States’ opening fixture against Guatemala on March 25 is set to occur at Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez in Guatemala City, Guatemala; kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (Pacific). Four days later, the team will return stateside to host Guatemala at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio; kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. (Pacific).

Nagbe made his debut for the United States during 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying on Nov. 13, 2015, playing 26 minutes as a substitute in a 6-1 win against St. Vincent and the Grenadines at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. Since then, Nagbe has made three additional appearances on the international stage for the United States, featuring against Trinidad and Tobago (Nov. 17), Iceland (Jan. 31) and Canada (Feb. 5).  

Playing 90 minutes in each of Portland’s first three games this season, Nagbe has made 163 appearances for the Timbers since joining the club in 2011, ranking him first in games played for the team across all eras (since 1975).