After friendlies against Ecuador on Wednesday in Frisco, Tex., and Bolivia next Saturday in Kansas City, Kan., Klinsmann will turn full attention to the 16-nation soccer tournament, June 3-26 at 10 U.S. venues. The Americans will open Group A play against Colombia on June 3 in Santa Clara, Calif.

They have also a friendly this Sunday at Puerto Rico (noon Eastern time on FS1), but the roster includes several players not chosen, or not under consideration, for Copa America. (MLS players weren’t available.)

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Most of Klinsmann’s selections were expected, but he chose Birnbaum (four international appearances) and Mexican-based Michael Orozco over Gonzalez, a World Cup starter who plays regularly with Mexican club Pachuca. Morris, a Seattle Sounders rookie forward who has risen rapidly with the national team, was left out in favor of MLS veteran Chris Wondolowski.

“Why not Jordan Morris and Wondo is in there?” Klinsmann said. “Well, because Wondo proves all the time that he’s just is so hungry for goals, and Jordan is on his way through the ranks coming up.”

Scottish-based Kitchen, 24, who hadn’t been involved in earnest with the U.S. team until this winter’s camp, joined Michael Bradley, Kyle Beckerman and Jermaine Jones in the central midfield corps. Mix Diskerud, a World Cup member who hasn’t met expectations since arriving in MLS last year, did not make the Copa team.

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The biggest positional takeaway was at left back, Klinsmann’s shallowest. Edgar Castillo and Tim Ream were passed over, while Fabian Johnson, who has played in both midfield and defense during his international career, was listed as a defender. He presumably will start on the left corner.

DeAndre Yedlin and Timmy Chandler, in the mix for the first time since last summer, are the top candidates to start at right back. Chandler is also an option on the left side in case of issues with Johnson, who is recovering from a groin injury and is questionable for the two friendlies. U.S. officials expect him to be ready for the Copa opener.

Klinsmann’s options at center back are Matt Besler, John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Birnbaum and Orozco. The latter two have played on the outside for Klinsmann as well, the type of flexibility that might have bolstered their roster cases over Gonzalez, who is strictly a middle man. He did not perform well in a World Cup qualifying defeat at Guatemala in March. Four days later, in the rematch with Guatemala, Birnbaum and Cameron partnered in central midfield during a 4-0 victory.

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“We look over the last two years who progressed coming through that was not in Brazil, and we also know who are going to be the future faces of the men’s national team going forward,” Klinsmann said. “But as of today, this is the strongest group of players we believe we can have, and we still give all the compliments and respect to the players that are left out.”

Ethan Horvath, 20, won the third goalkeeping slot over World Cup backup Nick Rimando and will support veterans Brad Guzan and Tim Howard. Guzan is slated to start against Colombia because he played more often than Howard in the Premier League this spring, albeit with a last-place club, Aston Villa.

“We go into the tournament with Brad Guzan being the number one,” Klinsmann said. “That’s been communicated clearly to Tim and Brad. We believe that Brad deserves it. Brad, throughout the last two years, played very consistently and very solid with us. He had a very tough year with Aston Villa, there’s no doubt it, but he knows that.”

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Howard “wasn’t with us for a year after the World Cup, and he also lost his starting spot the last half of the year with Everton, so we think that in that moment Brad has a little bit of an edge and deserves it.”

Borussia Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic, 17, made the squad and joined an attacking crew of Wondolowski, Clint Dempsey, Bobby Wood, Darlington Nagbe, Gyasi Zardes, Alejandro Bedoya and Graham Zusi.

Two-time World Cup striker Jozy Altidore was ruled out last week with a hamstring injury that will sideline him for up to two months.

Teams can make changes to the 23-man squad up to 24 hours before their first match but only through a documented injury. The replacement must come from the original 40-man list.

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The breakdown by league:

MLS: 11

Bundesliga: 5

Premier League: 3

Ligue 1 (France): 1

Liga MX: 1

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Scotland: 1

Norway: 1

By position:

GOALKEEPERS

In: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids), Ethan Horvath (Molde)

Out: Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes).

DEFENDERS

In: Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Fabian Johnson (Moenchengladbach), Michael Orozco (Tijuana), DeAndre Yedlin (Tottenham Hotspur).

Out: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Ventura Alvarado (Club America), Edgar Castillo (Monterrey), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest), Matt Miazga (Chelsea), Tim Ream (Fulham).

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MIDFIELDERS

In: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Jermaine Jones (Colorado Rapids), Perry Kitchen (Heart of Midlothian), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City).

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Out: Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Alfredo Morales (Ingolstad), Lee Nguyen (New England Revolution), Danny Williams (Reading), Ethan Finlay (Columbus Crew).

FORWARDS

In: Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (Hamburg), Gyasi Zardes (Los Angeles Galaxy).