Sweat on US call: "Surreal would be a good word"

Sweat wants to learn all he can and carve out a regular place on the national team.

“I’m meeting new teammates and a new coaching staff and I hope to leave an impact,” the NYCFC fullback said. “I want to earn everybody’s respect in the first couple of days and let everyone know I came here for business and I can keep up with all these guys on the field and do what they do. I want to take advantage of the opportunity and see what happens in the future.”

For Sweat, the fact that his first national team camp is in Tampa just makes things just a little sweeter.

He grew up in the area, playing club soccer in nearby Clearwater and college soccer on the very field the U.S. used for training Tuesday and Wednesday.

“I’m expecting a ton of friends and and family and familiar faces [at the game],” he said. “It’ll be a big number. I’m excited to have the support and it’s going to be an awesome moment. … ‘Surreal’ would be a good word to describe that this is all happening in Tampa right now.”