Union's Edu on World Cup preliminary roster

Union midfielder Maurice Edu was named Monday to the 30-man preliminary roster that will compete for spots on the U.S. World Cup team.

According to FIFA rules, the 23-man roster must be finalized by June 2.

Edu, 28, appeared in three of four matches at the 2010 World Cup for the United States.

Players on the preliminary roster will report to camp on Wednesday at Stanford University. Because of a previous agreement, Edu will compete for the Union in Wednesday's game at Sporting Kansas City before attending the camp.

"It's very exciting," Edu said in a statement released by the team. "That was part of one of my goals that I set in coming back here, coming back to MLS and coming back to Philly."

Edu said he understands he still has work to do in making the final roster.

"It was kind of a process and this is the next step in the process to what my ultimate goal is. . . . I'm very excited to go there representing not only myself and my family, but also the Union," Edu said. "Obviously, now I need to go in there and work hard and get on that plane to Brazil."

Among those left off the roster was forward Eddie Johnson, who scored the key first goal against Mexico in September that clinched the Americans' seventh straight World Cup berth.

"It was a very difficult decision based on what he's done with me the whole time," U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said.

Klinsmann said he viewed Landon Donovan, a veteran of three World Cups, as a pure forward on this squad. Johnson, a member of the 2006 World Cup team, was a victim of numbers as Klinsmann took just six forwards.

Ten players were from the 2010 U.S. team, including left back DaMarcus Beasley, like Donovan a veteran of three World Cups.

Edu most recently represented the United States in an April 2 friendly against Mexico at University of Phoenix Stadium. He was a second-half substitution in the 2-2 draw.

The U.S. national team will compete in three friendlies before the World Cup. The Americans face Azerbaijan on May 27 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. On June 1, the U.S. team meets Turkey at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J., and on June 7 the opponent is Nigeria at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Fla.

The World Cup begins June 12.

PRELIMINARY 30-PLAYER ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa),

Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake).

DEFENDERS (11): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla),

Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (L.A. Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC).

MIDFIELDERS (10): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Maurice Edu (Union), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City).

FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski

(San Jose Earthquakes).

OPENING-ROUND SCHEDULE

Monday, June 16, vs. Ghana, 6 p.m.

Sunday, June 22, vs. Portugal, 6 p.m.

Thursday, June 26, vs. Germany, noonEndText