The year 2016 is a big one for the US Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT). The Road to Russia 2018 resumes in March and the Hex begins in November (should the US qualify). There is also the Copa America Centenario in June where the US will want to have a good showing as the host nation. But that’s all in the future. For now there is the matter of the annual January Camp ending with two friendlies against Iceland and Canada.

The roster for this January Camp was released on January 6 and has seen a number of changes since then. FC Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez was called in but later changed his mind and decided to accept a call-up to a Mexican youth team camp. Bill Hamid was called in but was forced to withdraw with an injury that will see him miss the first half of the upcoming MLS season. Brad Evans was a late addition as was Michael Orozco-Fiscal who was added at the 11th hour on Friday.

This roster is a mix of veterans and younger players, the majority of whom are eligible to play for the US U-23 team as they attempt to qualify for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The crop of young players include Matt Miazga (who has since left camp and signed a deal with Chelsea), Kellyn Acosta, Eric Miller, Matt Polster, Will Trapp, and Jerome Kieswetter (who led the US in scoring during Olympic Qualifying). Jermaine Jones was a surprising inclusion given that he no longer has a club contract and is 34 years old.

The year 2015 was in no uncertain terms a complete disaster for the US. They failed to even make the Gold Cup Final and then lost to Mexico in the CONCACAF Cup with a berth in the 2017 Confederations Cup on the line. The U-23 team failed to automatically qualify for the Olympics and must now face a home and home playoff against Colombia. Throw in some friendly losses to Chile, Denmark, Costa Rica and a blowout against Brazil, and it’s tough to see any silver linings. But Jurgen Klinsmann remains as confident and sunny as ever. If the US can start 2016 on a high note and get it rolling in World Cup Qualifying, Klinsmann’s seat might just cool off.

Iceland come into this game at the highest point in their soccer history. They nearly qualified for the 2014 World Cup (losing in the playoff to Croatia) and just qualified for Euro 2016 (the first time they have ever qualified for a major tournament). Iceland has already played a pair of friendlies in 2016 a 1-0 win over Finland and a 2-1 loss against UAE. This is a very inexperienced roster with only two players having more than 30 caps. Swansea City midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson was not included (and it was noted with some disappointment that Icelandic-American striker Aron Johannsson was also not called in). The one to watch for Iceland is 37 year old Eidur Gudjohnsen who has 25 goals in 81 caps.

Notes

• Despite it being called the January Camp, this will be the third straight year that one of the friendlies to close it out will be played in February.

• Former Real Salt Lake and New York City manager Jason Kreis has been added to the USMNT staff on a temporary basis as a special advisor.

• The two friendlies against Iceland and Canada will be the second time the US has played back to back games at the Stub Hub Center (the first being the 2007 Gold Cup).

• This is the second straight year that Iceland will play games in January on US soil. They played a pair of friendlies against Canada in Orlando last year.

When, Where

1/31/16
Stub Hub Center
Carson, California
3:45pm ET
TV: ESPN2, UniMas
Live streaming: ESPN3.com and Sling TV.

All-Time Series

Series tied at 2-2-2

Last Meeting

4/24/94
Olympic Training Center
Chula Vista, California
USA 1-2 Iceland

Current FIFA Ranking

USA: 32

Iceland: 36

Next Game Up

2/5/16
USA vs. Canada
Stub Hub Center
Carson, California