As a young player, Sporting Kansas City defender Ike Opara was a regular on the United States U-23 and U-20 national teams. But while many of his teammates progressed to the next natural step — the U.S. men’s national team — Opara stayed behind, injuries derailing his advancement.
His career got back on track in 2017.
And he’s back in the U.S. men’s national team picture in 2018.
Opara received a call-up to join the Americans for the annual January training camp in Carson, Calif. It’s his first career call-up to the senior team.