Bello earns late call-up to USMNT
After fullback Serginio Dest had to withdraw with injury, Bielefeld's George Bello is headed stateside to help Gregg Berhalter's USMNT in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
Bello joins Bundesliga players Giovanni Reyna, Tyler Adams, and Ricardo Pepi in the USA to assist in a challenging final qualifying push.
Following back-to-back Bundesliga starts, George Bello looks to have an active international break as well. Initially not called up for Gregg Berhalter's national team, the new Bundesliga addition earned nomination after all when current FC Barcelona fullback Sergino Dest had to withdraw with injury.
Bello joins Bundesliga players Giovanni Reyna, Tyler Adams, and Ricardo Pepi in the USA to assist in a challenging final qualifying push.
Bello has already been capped six times for the US Men's National Soccer Team. The former Atlanta United defender has made six appearances for DSC Arminia Bielefeld since making the switch to German football this past January transfer window.
Bello earned his first Bundesliga start in the round 26 0-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund. The 20-year-old started again this weekend at Mainz. Like the rest of his German club teammates, he had a particularly rough day.
Gregg Berhalter's USMNT are currently placed second in a field of eight countries in the third round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying. The top three placed nations qualify for next Winter's tournament in Qatar.
On this, the final set of matchdays, the Americans face stern tests in the form of matches against Mexico, Panama, and Costa Rica. The USA must collect five points from these three matches in order to secure qualification. Away wins against Mexico and Costa Rica would constitute the first time the team has won qualifier matches on either country's home turf.
The team will also have to do without one of its better attackers after it was revealed today that RB Salzburg forward Brenden Aaronson (scorer of five national team goals in 2021) will be unavailable due to injury.
Bundesligsts already ahead of Bello in the initial call-up pool include USMNT team captain Tyler Adams (RB Leipzig), striker Ricardo Pepi (FC Augsburg), and Giovanni Reyna (Borussia Dortmund).
Defender Chris Richards (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim) remains in Germany to rehab injury. John Anthony Brooks (VfL Wolfsburg), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg), Justin Che (Hoffenheim), and Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach) were not called up this time.