COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – Colorado Rapids midfielder Kellyn Acosta, forward Jonathan Lewis and defender Sam Vines were named to the US men’s national team January camp in Bradenton, Florida, US soccer announced today. Acosta will be with the senior MNT, composed of players 24 and older, while Lewis and Vines will be with the U-23 MNT.
On January 24, several players from the U-23 side will be elevated to the senior national team for the planned match at the end of the month.
Click here for the full USMNT roster
The U-23 MNT, coached by Jason Kreis, will prepare for the Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship in March, while Acosta and the senior USMNT prepare for a busy calendar year that will feature Concacaf Nations League, Gold Cup and FIFA World Cup qualifying.
Acosta has earned 24 caps for the USMNT and scored two goals since making his debut in January 2016 as a 20-year-old. Acosta appeared in five of six matches as the US won the 2017 Gold Cup. In December, the Texas native made his first international appearance in two years as a substitute in a 6-0 win over El Salvador in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Acosta scored two goals and an assist in 16 regular and postseason appearances in 2020, his third season with Colorado.
Lewis earned his first senior national team call in January 2019 and has picked up six caps. Lewis assisted on goals in his debut against Panama on January 27, 2019, and Costa Rica on February 2, becoming the first MNT player since 2014 to assist in two consecutive matches as a substitute. The Florida native made one appearance to help the US reach the 2019 Gold Cup final. Lewis scored one goal and added an assist in three appearances, all of them as a starter, for the US U-23s in 2019. The 23-year-old was Colorado’s co-leading scorer with five goals in 18 regular season appearances in 2020.
Vines made his senior international debut in a 1-0 win over Costa Rica on February 1, becoming the first Rapids Homegrown and Academy product to start a match for the USMNT. Vines played the first half of a 6-0 win over El Salvador on December 9, making a key pass to set up the eventual game-winner. Vines previously made two appearances with the US U-23s. The 21-year-old Colorado Springs native was the only Rapids player to play every minute during the regular season, totaling one goal and three assists.
