Chicago Fire FC today announced that Homegrown goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina was named to the U.S. Men’s National Team’s roster for the team’s three upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches.
Slonina has been with the USMNT in a January training camp since Jan. 7 in Phoenix, Ariz. He earned his first USMNT call up in December, when he joined the squad in Carson, Calif., ahead of the 1-0 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday, Dec. 18 at Dignity Health Sports Park. Prior to being called to the senior USMNT, Slonina had represented the U.S. Youth National Teams at the U-14, U-17 and U-20 level.
The U.S. will kick off the next series of qualifying matches against El Salvador at 6:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, Jan. 27 at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio. The team will then travel to face Canada on 2:00 p.m. CT on Sunday, Jan. 30 at Tim Horton Field in Hamilton, Canada. The USMNT will then face off against Honduras at 6:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Feb. 2 at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minn. With six matches remaining, the USMNT sits in second place in the Octagonal standings with 15 points and a 4-1-3 record. The top three teams in the group earn automatic qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Slonina became the youngest goalkeeper in MLS history to start a match and earn a shutout when he made his professional debut against New York City FC on Wednesday, Aug. 4 at Soldier Field, keeping his first clean sheet in the 0-0 tie. He finished the season with 11 appearances (11 starts), 45 saves and four shutouts.
