United Goalkeeper Hamid called to U.S. Men's National Team camp

Bill Hamid called up to U.S. Men’s National Team for January camp and a friendly

Squad will face Canada on Jan. 29 in Houston, TX at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2

Washington, D.C. (January 6, 2013) – D.C. United today announced that Homegrown goalkeeper Bill Hamid has been called up to the U.S. Men’s National Team for training camp and a Jan. 29 friendly against Canada in Houston, TX at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The match, occurring at the end of the annual January camp, will open the team’s 2013 campaign and is the only game prior to the start of the Hexagonal Round of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying.

Hamid earned his first cap with the senior U.S. Men’s National Team a year ago when he registered a clean sheet in the side’s 1-0 win over Venezuela on Jan. 21, 2012 in Glendale, Ariz. The 22-year-old netminder was called up several times in 2011, serving as Tim Howard’s backup in games against Mexico (Aug. 10), Costa Rica (Sept. 2), Belgium (Sept. 6), Honduras (Oct. 8), France (Nov. 11) and Slovenia (Nov. 15). In each case, the D.C. United Academy product was on the 18-man roster, but did not see the field. Most recently, Hamid appeared in three matches in March 2012, alongside United teammate Perry Kitchen, for the U-23 U.S. Men’s National Team in its quest to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.

In his third full season with D.C. United, Hamid started 24 games and registered career-bests in GAA (1.03), saves (88), shutouts (8) and wins (13). At the end of the 2012 campaign, the Academy product finished with the best saves percentage (78.6%) in MLS and boasted the third-lowest GAA (minimum of 1,000 minutes played) in the League. On Sept. 2, 2009 – at 18-years-old – Hamid became the first D.C. United Academy player to sign directly with the first team. Hamid made history on May 5, 2010 when he became the youngest goalkeeper to win an MLS contest at 19 years and 161 days old, besting the previous record held by Tim Howard.

Roster By Position

GOALKEEPERS (3): Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire)

DEFENDERS (9): Steven Beitashour (San Jose Earthquakes), Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), A.J. DeLaGarza (LA Galaxy), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Connor Lade (New York Red Bulls), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Justin Morrow (San Jose Earthquakes), Jeff Parke (Philadelphia Union)

MIDFIELDERS (8): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (out of contract), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Joshua Gatt (Molde), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

FORWARDS (5): Juan Agudelo (Chivas USA), Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo), Edson Buddle (Colorado Rapids), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)