Players in other sports in the United States sometimes dislike the idea of moving from the West Coast to the East. Bedoya is pondering jobs more than 6,000 miles from where he grew up.

Other things, Bedoya can ignore. He is single, so he does not have to worry about moving a family overseas. And he probably does not need to consider whether he will face overt racial abuse, a lingering problem in some European leagues.

Add politics, climate and food — issues that concern players in all sports, but ones seemingly magnified for globe-trotting soccer players.

“Maybe the culture is crazy and maybe I never pick up the language,” Bedoya said. “Maybe the money is really good. But am I going to be happy there? I think to play at your highest level, you have to be satisfied in life, also.”

But there is more. For instance, in no other major sport does the national team represent such a life and career goal. Bedoya was on the United States’ preliminary 30-man roster for the 2010 World Cup before missing the final cut. He wants a better outcome for the World Cup next year in Brazil, assuming the United States is successful in the final regional qualifying round, which begins Feb. 6 at Honduras.

“I can’t speak for everybody, but I assume that the World Cup represents the pinnacle for any soccer player,” Bedoya said. “I would take less money to find a club situation that will get me to playing time, a path to becoming a better player, and a spot for 2014.”

For that reason, Bedoya said he was unlikely to sign for any of the interested clubs from Eastern Europe, out of the spotlight, even though they offered the most money. Growth and stability are his main concerns.