Cristian Roldan Earns USMNT Friendly Call-Up During Sounders' Success

Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan dribbles during a game against Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash. (Sandra Agbotse / Sounders FC Communications)

After much speculation and lobbying from fans, Seattle Sounders defensive midfielder Cristian Roldan is one step closer to repping the red, white, and blue during next summer's FIFA World Cup. Roldan was called up to the U.S. Men's National Team on Wednesday for friendlies against South Korea and Japan on Saturday and next Tuesday, respectively.

While Roldan has never played in World Cup action — he was on the roster but didn't play in the 2022 edition — the veteran has played 37 games for his country. His last appearance came in 2023 when he was featured on the CONCACAF Gold Cup squad.

The first game will be in New Jersey, while the second will take place in Ohio as a busy summer only gets busier for the 30-year old Roldan, who is slated to join the team on Thursday. According to Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer, Roldan was dealing with an injury during last Wednesday's Leagues Cup semifinal against the LA Galaxy and left the game early. He played the full 90 against Inter Miami in Sunday’s sold-out Leagues Cup Final — Seattle won 3-0.

This weekend was supposed to be a rare time for Roldan to rest, as the Sounders got five days off following their first trophy win in three years.

But Roldan is leading the MLS in tackles right now and coming off a Club World Cup appearance in which he was the best player on the field with world-class talent at times. Needless to say, this is a perfect time for the veteran to make some progress with the national team to buff up his 2026 resume.