U.S. soccer team to begin training camp

CHICAGO, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- U.S. men's national soccer Coach Bob Bradley has chosen 25 players to begin training next week in California.

Bradley said Tuesday the players include Kenny Cooper of FC Dallas, Sean Franklin of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Jon Busch of the Chicago Fire and Chad Marshall of the Columbus Crew, all winners of top awards this year in Major League Soccer.

The training camp gets under way Sunday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

The U.S. team will play Sweden in a "friendly" match Jan. 24. The team will go on to the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in June and will begin qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

"This is the beginning of a big year for the national team, and it is important that we get started off heading in the right direction," Bradley said.