It’s been a mere month since the United States men’s national team sauntered into the final round of World Cup qualifying with commanding 6-0 and 4-0 wins over St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago, respectively. But it’s already time for Jurgen Klinsmann and his team to begin preparing for that all-important hexagonal round, which will begin with a home game against Mexico in Columbus on Nov. 11 and an equally daunting away match at Costa Rica four days later.

To that end, the USA will play a friendly in Cuba – its first there since 1947 – on Friday and another against New Zealand in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Oct. 11.

On Sunday, Klinsmann called up an experimental squad for the pair of low-profile opponents. The German clearly sees these games as an opportunity to try a few new things, and rightly so. As such, he called in three young goalkeepers over stalwarts Tim Howard and Brad Guzan, brought back several players who had faded from the picture, included a prospect whose name has become somewhat ignominious and named a debutant.

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“These two games are very important for us because it’s the last time we can see certain players before making the decision on the 23 going in to represent us for the Mexico and Costa Rica clashes,” Klinsmann said in a statement. “There’s a lot at stake for the players to make their case, to show where they are right now. We have the opportunity to bring some players back that haven’t been with us for a little bit, and we want to see if they can put a stamp on this camp and have a chance for being in the roster next month.”

Three German-Americans – holding midfielder Danny Williams, winger Julian Green and outside back Timmy Chandler – were recalled for the first time since May when the U.S. was preparing for the Copa America Centenario. Holding midfielder Perry Kitchen was also called back, while midfielders Paul Arriola and Sacha Kljestan retained their surprise spots from September. But Green’s inclusion is particularly noteworthy, as he has made just one appearance for Bayern Munich this season and three in three years. He also remains the guy for whose benefit Landon Donovan was bizarrely left off the 2014 World Cup roster, even though Green was injured and almost completely inexperienced.

“Obviously, we have our core of players that took us through a very successful Copa America and the recent games,” Klinsmann explained. “But at the same time you constantly evaluate and observe what the players are doing that are knocking on the door.”

Most eyebrow-raising, however, was the omission of the two men who have combined to put a stranglehold on the goalkeeper position for a decade. Instead, Major League Soccer standout David Bingham, Norway-based prospect Ethan Horvath and the Mexican-American William Yarbrough will all get a chance to steal some precious minutes in the spotlight.

“Obviously, we have the two experienced guys with Tim Howard and Brad Guzan,” Klinsmann said. “Both are in different situations right now – Tim is obviously very busy with the Colorado Rapids and Brad is not getting the opportunity to play at Middlesbrough. I think it’s a perfect time to give an open window to three younger goalkeepers. That kind of opportunity is very rare.”

Then there’s 20-year-old Lynden Gooch, who has come from seemingly out of nowhere to earn four starts for Sunderland in the Premier League. The winger deservedly got a first call-up to the senior national team.

Midfielder Alejandro Bedoya was scratched from the roster with an injury on Monday. No replacement was called.

Eyes will likely be on others. Strikers Jozy Altidore and Bobby Wood have been in searing form for both club and country. Together, they have combined for 10 goals in the five games they’ve started up front for the U.S. Christian Pulisic, the midfield prodigy, has followed up his breakout September with the national team with more eye-opening performances for Borussia Dortmund, merrily pushing through a loaded depth chart. And striker Jordan Morris now has 12 goals for Seattle Sounders, a Major League Soccer record for an American rookie, and is more or less carrying the team.

These games are more likely to be about them. But in the margins, there will be plenty of opportunities for faces new and old to get a good look from Klinsmann before the long and slow march to the 2018 World Cup resumes.

U.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER FOR CUBA AND NEW ZEALAND FRIENDLIES

Goalkeepers: David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes), Ethan Horvath (Molde FK), William Yarbrough (Club Leon).

Defenders: Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca), Fabian Johnson (Borussia Moenchengladbach), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle).

Midfielders: Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Lynden Gooch (Sunderland), Perry Kitchen (Hearts), Sacha Kljestan (New York Red Bulls), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund), Danny Williams (Reading).

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (Hamburg SV).

Leander Schaerlaeckens is a soccer columnist for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @LeanderAlphabet.