VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed today that centre back Christian Dean has been called up to the United States U-23 men’s national team for an upcoming camp in Brasilia.
The 21-player group, which is beginning its early preparations for qualification toward the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, departs for Brasilia on Thursday, Oct. 9.
The team will train from Oct. 10-12 and then conclude the camp on Oct. 13 with a friendly against Brazil’s U-23 national team at Estádio Nacional in Brasilia. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. local (3 p.m. PT). As a result, Dean will be unavailable for Vancouver’s match against Seattle Sounders FC on Oct. 10.
Dean, 21, joined Whitecaps FC as the third overall selection in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft after playing a total of three seasons with California Golden Bears. The 6-foot-3 centre back has started one of his four MLS appearances this far, in addition to starting both of Vancouver’s matches as part of the 2014 Amway Canadian Championship.
This is the fourth call-up by the United States Soccer Federation for the East Palo Alto, California resident and third with the U-23 side this year. The group met for a domestic camp in April at U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center, and then most recently traveled to Nassau, Bahamas, in early August. That trip included an Aug. 6 match against the Bahamas’ full national team, with the USA earning a 5-1 victory.
Roster By Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Charlie Horton (Cardiff City; Cleveland, Ohio), Cody Cropper (Southampton; Maple Grove, Minn.)
DEFENDERS (8): Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham Hotspur; Westcliff on Sea, England), Christian Dean (Vancouver Whitecaps FC; East Palo Alto, Calif.), Matthew Miazga (New York Red Bulls; Clifton, N.J.), Eric Miller (Montreal Impact; Woodbury, Minn.), Juan Pablo Ocegueda (Alebrijes de Oaxaca; Riverside, Calif.), William Packwood (Birmingham City; Concord, Mass.), Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids; Brighton, Colo.), Oscar Sorto (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Dennis Flores (León; Pasadena, Calif.), Marlon Hairston (Colorado Rapids; Jackson, Miss.), Emerson Hyndman (Fulham; Dallas, Texas), Benji Joya (Chicago Fire; San Jose, Calif.), Esteban Rodriguez (Dorados de Sinaloa; Bell Gardens, Calif.)
FORWARDS (6): Alonso Hernandez (Monterrey; El Paso, Texas), Jordan Morris (Stanford; Mercer Island, Wash.), Sean Okoli (Seattle Sounders FC; Federal Way, Wash.), Mario Rodriguez (Borussia Mönchengladbach; North Hollywood, Calif.), Rubio Rubin (Utrecht; Beaverton, Ore.), Ben Spencer (Indy Eleven; Albuquerque, N.M.)
