Brandon Vazquez, Roman Celentano Called up to USMNT January Camp

January 18, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – FC Cincinnati News Release

CHICAGO – FC Cincinnati’s Brandon Vazquez and Roman Celentano have been called up to the 24-man roster for the U.S. Men’s National Team’s upcoming BioSteel January Training Camp, U.S. Soccer announced today. The USMNT training camp will take place in Carson, Calif. and will feature two International Friendlies against Serbia (Wed., Jan. 25 at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles) and Colombia (Sat., Jan. 28 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.).

An appearance for Vazquez or Celentano in one of the friendlies would mark the first cap in club history for an FC Cincinnati player with the U.S. Men’s National Team. Since 1999, a total of 30 players who earned their first or second cap in the annual USMNT January Camp went on to play in a FIFA World Cup.

Vazquez and Celentano, each earning their first call-up with the U.S. Men’s National Team, become the third and fourth players in FC Cincinnati club history to earn a senior call-up with the USMNT (Greg Garza, January 2019; Frankie Amaya, December 2020).

Vazquez’s first senior call-up with the USMNT comes following the 24-year-old’s breakout 2022 campaign with the Orange and Blue. In 33 games, the forward scored a career-high 18 goals and eight assists. He netted a club-record 20 goals across all competitions, including the game-winner against the New York Red Bulls in FCC’s first-ever MLS Cup Playoff win in October. He was named to the 2022 MLS All-Star team and was honored in MLS’ Best XI squad at the end of the season.

GOAL | Brandon Vazquez, FC Cincinnati – 93rd minute

The Chula Vista, Calif. native has previously represented the United States at the U-17, U-19 and U-20 levels. He was one of two players – along with Chelsea FC’s Christian Pulisic – to score for the U.S. at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Vazquez tallied twice, scoring his goals in group stage matches against Chile and Croatia.

Celentano earns his first call-up with the United States at any level. The Naperville, Ill. native made 27 appearances with FC Cincinnati as the starting goalkeeper last season in his rookie year, recording five clean sheets. His 85 saves, two penalties saved, and 67% save percentage ranked best in MLS among goalkeepers aged 22 or younger, and his 27 appearances ranked second to Chicago Fire FC’s Gabriel Slonina, who has since signed with Chelsea FC.

SAVE | Roman Celentano, FC Cincinnati – 43rd minute

Celentano, 22, was FC Cincinnati’s…