USA national team captain Clint Dempsey admits it is an honour to be heading to another World Cup tournament.
The 31-year old Seattle Sounders star featured for the US at Germany 2006, scoring the side's only goal in their group stage elimination, before playing a leading role at South Africa 2010 as the team made it to the Round of 16.
This time, the former Fulham and Tottenham attacking midfielder will lead his nation into battle at Brazil 2014 and he acknowledges just how much of a privilege that is.
"Any time you can make the team that goes to a World Cup, it's always a dream come true," he told USsoccer.com.
"It's what I used to pray about as a little kid. I've gotten to play in two and now I have an opportunity to play in three. I'm blessed."
Dempsey, who has been capped 103 times by the US, admitted there was pressure leading into the tournament but indicated that those feelings simply come with the territory.
"There's always pressure no matter what World Cup you're in. You always have to be performing," he added.
"We're excited by the 23 that are here and now we can push forward. We look forward to that chance of trying to do something special in Brazil. We're focused on going down there and doing well in order to move things forward. You do that by doing well in major competitions."
The US open their Group G campaign against Ghana in Natal on June 16 following a trio of friendlies against Azerbaijan on Tuesday, and Turkey and Nigeria in the first week of June.
