U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena called 23 players into camp beginning Sunday, Oct. 2, in the Washington area to train for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against El Salvador Oct. 9 in San Salvador (TV: pay-per-view, 9 p.m. ET) and Panama Oct. 13 in Washington, D.C. (TV: ESPN2, live, 7:30 pm. ET).

The U.S. squad includes 12 MLS players and 11 European-based players.

Three players who started in the Panama game Sept. 8 in Panama City were not called up: defender Greg Vanney, midfielder and captain Claudio Reyna and striker Brian Ching. Reyna and Ching were both recently injured. Vanney has started all but one game for French club Bastia.

Four veterans of the 2002 World Cup make their return to the national team. Gregg Berhalter has returned to action at German Second Division club Energie Cottbus after Columbus Crew midfielder Tony Sanneh joins the U.S. for the first time since returning to MLS. Colorado Rapids defender Pablo Mastroeni, who has played five times in 2004, last started in the 1-1 draw against Poland on July 11 in Chicago. Striker Josh Wolff is back after helping the Kansas City Wizards win the U.S. Open Cup title and take over first place in MLS's Western Conference.

A notable absence is that of Blackburn goalie Brad Friedel. Arena called up two other Premier League goalies — Tim Howard (Manchester United), Kasey Keller (Tottenham Hotspur) — although both have lost their starting jobs this season.

USA ROSTER:

Goalkeepers: Tim Howard (Manchester United), Kasey Keller (Tottenham), Jonny Walker (MetroStars).

Defenders: Gregg Berhalter (Energie Cottbus), Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham), Bobby Convey (Reading), Cory Gibbs (Dallas Burn), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege), Eddie Pope (MetroStars), Tony Sanneh (Columbus Crew).

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (PSV), Landon Donovan, (San Jose Earthquakes), Eddie Gaven (MetroStars), Cobi Jones (Los Angeles Galaxy), Eddie Lewis (Preston North End), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), Clint Mathis (Hannover 96), Kerry Zavagnin (Kansas City Wizards).

Forwards: Conor Casey (Mainz), Eddie Johnson (Dallas Burn), Brian McBride (Fulham), Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards).