Morris back in USMNT Squad

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Jordan Morris earned his first start in a world cup qualifying match since 2017 as he was selected in the squad to face Honduras in Minnesota last night. The former Cardinal striker also featured as a substitute against Canada and El Salvador last month.

Morris featured for more than an hour of the match against Honduras before being replaced by Christian Pulisic in the 64th minute. It's been a long road back to the national team for Morris, who played for USA for the first time in nearly two years in December when he started in a 1-0 win against Bosnia and Herzegoninia. Prior to that start, his last appearance for the United States was in November of 2019 in a 4-0 victory against Cuba, where he scored two goals.

The Mercer Island native had been kept out of nearly all USMNT games in 2021 after suffering a torn ACL in February while playing for Swansea City on a loan deal from Seattle Sounders FC in the second tier of professional English football. Morris made his return to professional play in November of 2021, and rejoined the national team the following month.

The United States is looking to solidify their spot in the world cup as they currently sit in second in the CONCACAF standings, behind Canada and ahead of Mexico. The top three teams will qualify to compete in Qatar in the 2022 world cup.

Morris and the United States will have a break from the world cup qualifiers until late March when they will face Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica.