New U.S. citizen Ilie Sanchez talks possible USMNT call-up

is there still time for the 32-year-old to carve out a USMNT role?

New U.S. citizen Ilie Sánchez has said he’d be “very proud and excited” to get a U.S. national team call-up — though he also admitted his position could make the possibility difficult.

The Los Angeles FC midfielder received his citizenship this week, six years after leaving his native Spain to sign with Sporting Kansas City.

Sánchez has carved out an excellent career in MLS, becoming one of the league’s top holding midfielders while being named an All-Star in 2018 and 2022.

The 32-year-old spoke to the media on Thursday, saying how happy he was to become a citizen of his adopted homeland.

“I know and I understand that I will never be the same [as] someone who was born here, but for me, I don’t feel different. The way that people treat me since day one, even before becoming a citizen, has been amazing,” Sánchez said. “Partly I think it’s because of the place I landed, Kansas City, but also nothing changed when I moved to Los Angeles. I just experienced different situations. I’ve met different people, but the treatment or the relationships have been amazing as well.

“I’m just happy. Nothing changed from yesterday when I wasn’t a citizen to today when I finally became one of you guys. But still, I hope in the next years to come I can keep building relationships and moments and memories here in the U.S.”

Sánchez also addressed the possibility of a USMNT call, saying that he felt his position could hinder his chances.

“If soccer brings me there, I would be very, very proud and excited about the opportunity,” Sánchez added. “But at the same time, I also think the U.S. national team, their strongest line on the field it’s probably the midfield, right? It’s difficult for that to happen.

“I’m open to everything. It would be an opportunity for me to improve and to have a better career. But I’m also focused on what we do here every day and keep building a successful season or time here in LA.”

The USMNT does have depth at central midfield but in terms of a true No. 6, the path to a call-up may not be as difficult as Sánchez believes. His LAFC teammate Kellyn Acosta was the only real backup holding midfielder taken to the World Cup and at the club level, Acosta plays further up the pitch to allow Sánchez to fill the No. 6 role for LAFC.

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