Scored twice during four appearances in qualifying, Mathis is desperate to make up for lost time at the World Cup.
His progress and international ambitions were halted when a serious knee injury struck in the summer of 2001.
Was the youngest player to have represented the national team when he made his debut in November 1998 aged just 21.
Now with New York/New Jersey MetroStars he has formerly played for Los Angeles Galaxy with whom he won a runners-up medal in the 1999 MLS Cup.
Manager Bruce Arena intends to use him as an attacking midfielder at the World Cup.