Dempsey, Bradley, Howard, Altidore among U.S. soccer roster additions

CLEVELAND—Forward Clint Dempsey, midfielder Michael Bradley and goalkeeper Tim Howard are among six additions to the U.S. roster for the knockout phase of the CONCACAF Gold Cup as coach Bruce Arena opted to add some of his most experienced players.

Arena also added forward Jozy Altidore, midfielder Darlington Nagbe and goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez, the U.S. Soccer Federation said Sunday. Gonzalez's application to change affiliation from Mexico to the U.S. was approved by FIFA last month, after the deadline for setting the 23-man roster for the group phase.

Goalkeepers Brad Guzan and Sean Johnson were dropped along with midfielders Alejandro Bedoya, Cristian Roldan and Kelyn Rowe, and forward Dom Dwyer. Arena had planned in advance of the tournament to replace Guzan, Johnson and Bedoya.

Bedoya is expecting the birth of his second child next week.

The U.S. plays El Salvador in a quarterfinal on Wednesday in Philadelphia after Costa Rica meets Panama in the opener of the doubleheader. The following day at Glendale, Arizona, defending champion Mexico faces Honduras and Jamaica plays Canada. The Philadelphia winners meet Saturday at Arlington, Texas, and the Arizona winners play the following day at Pasadena, California. The final is July 26 at Santa Clara, California.

Using a mostly junior varsity group, the Americans opened with a 1-1 tie against Panama and wasted a two-goal lead against Martinique before winning 3-2. The U.S. defeated Nicaragua 3-0 Saturday night, getting an 88th-minute goal from Matt Miazga to win Group B by edging Panama based on total goals.