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78 MLS players receive call-ups for international duty

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While three MLS matches will take place over the weekend, the upcoming days will be reserved for international fixtures, including 2018 World Cup qualifying.

Most notably, 13 MLSers were named to the U.S. Men’s National Team roster by head coach Jurgen Klinsmann ahead of their home and away matches against Guatemala in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.

Another 12 players were called up by the U.S. Under-23 national team for their critical home-and-home series against Colombia on Mar. 25 and Mar. 29. The two matches will decide which side qualifies for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In all, 78 players from MLS have received call ups to their national teams, including nine who will represent Jamaica and another five who will play for Costa Rica.

Here’s a full rundown of the players called up to their respective national teams:

Chicago Fire (3)

  • David Accam (Ghana) — 2017 African Cup of Nations, home and away vs. Mozambique (Mar. 24, Mar. 27)
  • Matt Polster (U.S. U-23s) — Olympic qualifying, home and away vs. Colombia (Mar.  25, Mar. 29)
  • Brandon Vincent (U.S. U-23s) — Olympic qualifying, home and away vs. Colombia (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)

Colorado Rapids (7)

  • Kevin Doyle (Ireland) — International friendlies, vs. Switzerland (Mar. 25) and Slovakia (Mar. 29)
  • Mekeil Williams (Trinidad & Tobago) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Shkëlzen Gashi (Albania) — International friendlies, vs. Austria (Mar. 26) and Luxembourg (Mar. 29)
  • Marco Pappa (Guatemala) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, vs. United States (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Micheal Azira (Uganda) — 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifying, home and away vs. Burkina Faso (Mar. 26, Mar. 29)
  • Eric Miller (U.S. U-23s) — Olympic qualifying, home and away vs. Colombia (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Dillon Serna (U.S. U-23s) — Olympic qualifying, home and away vs. Colombia (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)

Columbus Crew (5)

  • Tony Tchani (Cameroon) — 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifying, home and away vs. South Africa (Mar. 26, Mar. 29)
  • Ethan Finlay (United States) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Guatemala (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Will Trapp (U.S. U-23s) — Olympic qualifying, home and away vs. Colombia (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Harrison Afful (Ghana) — 2017 African Cup of Nations, home and away vs. Mozambique (Mar. 24, Mar. 27)
  • Rodrigo Saravia (Guatemala) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. United States (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)

D.C. United (2)

  • Steve Birnbaum (United States) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Guatemala (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Alvaro Saborio (Costa Rica) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Jamaica (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)

FC Dallas (7)

  • Tesho Akindele (Canada) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Mexico (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Moises Hernandez (Guatemala) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. United States (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Jesse Gonzalez (Mexico Under-23s) — International friendlies, vs. Japan (Mar. 25) and Portugal (Mar. 28)
  • Kellyn Acosta(U.S. U-23s) — Olympic qualifying, home and away vs. Colombia (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Walker Zimmerman (U.S. U-23s) — Olympic qualifying, home and away vs. Colombia (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Atiba Harris (St. Kitts and Nevis) — Caribbean Cup, vs. Aruba (Mar. 25) and Antigua and Barbuda (Mar. 29)
  • Maynor Figueroa (Honduras) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. El Salvador (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)

Houston Dynamo (3)

  • Boniek Garcia (Honduras)— 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. El Salvador (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Erick Torres (Mexico Under-23s)— International friendlies, vs. Japan (Mar. 25) and Portugal (Mar. 28)
  • Giles Barnes (Jamaica)— 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Costa Rica (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)

LA Galaxy (3)

  • Gyasi Zardes (United States)— 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Guatemala (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Robbie Keane (Ireland) — International friendlies, vs. Switzerland (Mar. 25) and Slovakia (Mar. 29)
  • A.J. DeLaGarza (Guam) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, vs. Oman (Mar. 24)

Montreal Impact (1)

  • Johan Venegas (Costa Rica) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Jamaica (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)

New England Revolution (2)

  • Lee Nguyen (United States) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Guatemala (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Je-Vaughn Watson (Jamaica) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Costa Rica (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)

New York City FC (3)

  • Mix Diskerud (United States) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Guatemala (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Khiry Shelton (U.S. U-23s) — Olympic qualifying, home and away vs. Colombia (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Ronald Matarrita (Costa Rica) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Jamaica (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)

New York Red Bulls (3)

  • Kemar Lawrence (Jamaica)— 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Costa Rica (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Karl Ouimette (Canada) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Mexico (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Anatole Abang (Cameroon) — 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifying, home and away vs. South Africa (Mar. 26, Mar. 29)

Orlando City (4)

  • Cyle Larin (Canada)— 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Mexico (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Darwin Ceren (El Salvador) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Honduras (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Kevin Molino (Trinidad & Tobago) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Tommy Redding (U.S. Under-20s) — Dallas Cup, Hoffenheim Under-19 (Mar. 23)

Philadelphia Union (1)

  • Andre Blake (Jamaica) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Costa Rica (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)

Portland Timbers (6)

  • Darlington Nagbe (United States)— 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Guatemala (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Adam Kwarasey (Ghana) — 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifying, home and away vs. Mozambique (Mar. 24, Mar. 27)
  • Fanendo Adi (Nigeria) — 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifying, home and away vs. Egypt (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Darren Mattocks (Jamaica) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Costa Rica (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Alvas Powell (Jamaica) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Costa Rica (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Jermaine Taylor (Jamaica) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Costa Rica (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)

Real Salt Lake (3)

  • Kyle Beckerman (United States)— 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Guatemala (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Demar Phillips (Jamaica) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Costa Rica (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Danny Acosta (U.S. Under-20s) — Dallas Cup, Hoffenheim Under-19 (Mar. 23)

San Jose Earthquakes (6)

  • Fatai Alashe (U.S. U-23s) — Olympic qualifying, home and away vs. Colombia (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Chris Wondolowski (United States) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Guatemala (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • David Bingham (United States) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Guatemala (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Simon Dawkins (Jamaica) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Costa Rica (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Anibal Godoy (Panama) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Haiti (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Alberto Quintero (Panama) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Haiti (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)

Seattle Sounders (6)

  • Clint Dempsey (United States) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Guatemala (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Jordan Morris (U.S. U-23s) — Olympic qualifying, home and away vs. Colombia (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Tyler Miller (U.S. U-23s) — Olympic qualifying, home and away vs. Colombia (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Joevin Jones (Trinidad & Tobago) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Oalex Anderson (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Trinidad & Tobago (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Victor Mansaray (U.S. Under-20s) — Dallas Cup, Hoffenheim Under-19 (Mar. 23)

Sporting Kansas City (3)

  • Matt Besler (United States)— 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Guatemala (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Roger Espinoza (Honduras) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. El Salvador (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Soni Mustivar (Haiti) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Panama (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)

Toronto FC (4)

  • Michael Bradley (United States)— 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Guatemala (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Jozy Altidore (United States)— 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Guatemala (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Will Johnson (Canada) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Mexico (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Jordan Hamilton (Canada Under-20s) — International friendly, vs. England Under-20 national team (Mar. 27)

Vancouver Whitecaps (6)

  • Kendall Waston (Costa Rica)— 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Jamaica (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Christian Bolaños (Costa Rica) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Jamaica (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Blas Pérez (Panama) — 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, home and away vs. Haiti (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Tim Parker (U.S. U-23s) — Olympic qualifying, home and away vs. Colombia (Mar. 25, Mar. 29)
  • Marco Bustos (Canada Under-20s) — International friendly, vs. England Under-20 national team (Mar. 27)
  • Marco Carducci (Canada Under-20s) — International friendly, vs. England Under-20 national team (Mar. 27)

Which players are you most excited to see on the international stage? Who has the most to gain with their call up?

Share your thoughts below

Comments

  1. But it’s a retirement league…Seriously, MLS is doing what it should be doing, being a proving ground for U.S. and other regional talent.

    It never will be a top 5 league, so we can knock that crap off. We’re not a soccer country, it’s not in our blood.

    Reply
  2. This is a good development and hopefully leads to MLS actually taking international breaks instead of playing through them as they so often do.

    Reply
  3. Just want to add another name to the list…

    NYCFC- Jason Hernandez (Puerto Rico): Caribbean Cup- vs Anguilla (3/26) and Guyana (3/29).

    Reply
  4. Pretty impressive how many CONCACAF players are here, would love to see a breakdown of which league has the most CONCACAF players who are playing outside of their home country.

    Reply
    • I was thinking the same. The number of Jamaican internationals in MLS really caught my eye. No surprise to see their rise in the ranks of concacaf.

      Reply

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