USA national team manager Juergen Klinsmann says he is still trying to get a clearance for Seattle Sounders midfielder Osvaldo Alonso.
The 27-year old defected from Cuba in 2007 but has not yet been given international clearance by FIFA in order to represent to the US.
Klinsmann has urged the Football Association of Cuba to allow Alonso to pledge his allegiance to the United States.
"We need their help in a certain way to get him cleared," Klinsmann told reporters.
"It is a more of an administrative and governmental issue, which we on the technical side have no influence over."
He added: "Every player that you follow and plays on a consistent high level is of interest to us.
"I think Ozzie did that over the past two years. He really made himself known as a strong No. 6, a very good team player, a player that is always there for his teammates in a role similar to Kyle Beckerman at Real Salt Lake.
"You know you just hope you can make something happen for him. We can't bring him in until this topic is solved."
