Sweat makes USMNT

Ben Sweat needed assistance to walk from the locker room to the team bus after a road loss to Minnesota United last Saturday – he had been forced out of the match in the 83rd minute with back spasms.

New York City FC had a subsequent three-week sabbatical courtesy of the MLS scheduling wizards so the timing appeared good for the club’s full-time left back – an extended break to recover and be fit for City’s next match Oct. 21 at D.C. United.

However, Sweat was on the preliminary roster for the United States men’s national team with an international break scheduled from Oct. 8-16.

His first call-up to the USMNT was in jeopardy.

“After the game on Saturday, I was worried,” Sweat told Pro Soccer USA.

With the multiple communiques between club and country, Sweat absorbed the hints that if deemed fit, the chance to don the USMNT kit was promising.

“Our staff was checking in on Kev (athletic trainer Kevin Christen) to make sure I was good to go if I did get called in,” Sweat said. “So, it was a bunch of little ways I found out. I eventually got the confirmation email and was just super excited – I was really emotional.”