Chris Wondolowski had suspected his national team career was over with a new U.S. coach and an emphasis on youth this year.
But the Earthquakes captain has continued to shine in Major League Soccer, something coach Bruce Arena has noticed.
Arena named Wondolowski one of his five strikers as the United States takes on Costa Rica on Friday in a World Cup qualifying showdown in Harrison, New Jersey.
Wondolowski, 34, is part of a 26-player roster for two big games in the final round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The Americans (2-2-2, 8 points) travel to Honduras on Sept.