NEW YORK — The United States is allowed to expand its roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup by seven players to 30.

The decision was made by soccer's North and Central American and Caribbean governing body because the U.S. team is coming off the Confederations Cup, where it lost to Brazil 3-2 in Sunday's final in Johannesburg.

The U.S., seeking its third straight Gold title, included just two regular starters on its 23-man Gold Cup roster announced last week: forward Brian Ching and right back Steve Cherundolo. They missed the Confederations Cup because of injuries.

"With the objective of providing the best performance possible for the public, and in recognition that the back-to-back tournaments strain players and their clubs, CONCACAF will give permission to any team who also is participating in the Confederations Cup in the same year to enlarge their roster to 30 from the 23 already permitted," CONCACAF general secretary Chuck Blazer said Tuesday. "This allowance will be extended to any team in the future that finds itself in the same situation."

Teams can dress 18 players for any match.

The U.S. opens Saturday against Grenada at Seattle.