Photo: Earl Gardner

preseason friendly in Orlando, the team announced Thursday.

Khalfan, 23, joined the Union via the MLS waiver draft in November after Vancouver let him go following a 2011 season in which he recorded one goal and four assists in 22 games. Khalfan, a Tanzanian international, is expected to feature for his national team Thursday in a match against the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Khalfan was expected to compete for minutes with the Union, but he appeared to be the ninth midfielder in a group competing for time at four midfield spots. The acquisitions of Gabriel Gomez and Porfirio Lopez and return of Keon Daniel may have sealed his fate. Gomez is expected to slot in as a starter at center midfield, and with Lopez the favorite to lock down the left back spot, it’s pushed last year’s left back, Gabriel Farfan, back to his regular wide midfielder role. Michael Farfan, Brian Carroll, Roger Torres, Amobi Okugo and Freddy Adu are all expected to be in the midfield rotation as well, leaving eight players competing for four spots, provided Union manager Peter Nowak continues to deploy a four-man midfield.

The move frees up an international roster slot, leaving the Union with two open slots for foreign players. The club is expected to sign local youth player Christian Hernandez, who joined the team in Florida for camp, and though it hasn’t been confirmed yet, he may occupy an international slot due to holding Mexican citizenship.