It is a good thing Seattle Sounders FC aren’t playing during the upcoming International Break. An MLS high nine players have been tapped by their national teams to take part in the upcoming set of World Cup Qualifiers. Clint Dempsey, Jordan Morris, Cristian Roldan (USA), Nicolás Lodeiro (Uruguay), Román Torres (Panama), Oniel Fisher (Jamaica), Joevin Jones (Trinidad & Tobago), Gustav Svensson (Sweden) and Nouhou (Cameroon) will travel to all parts of the world to help their National Teams qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Dempsey, Morris and Roldan will play Costa Rica in New Jersey on Sept. 1 at 3:30 p.m. PT and Honduras in San Pedro Sula at 2:30 p.m. PT on Sept. 5. Clint dempsey will be looking to become the USMNT’s all time leading goal scorer. The call-up clearly represents a step up in Roldan’s progression with the US, with this being the first time he has been called up to a first choice US roster.
This will be Roldan’s first call-up during World Cup Qualifying. He made his International Debut over the summer in the Gold Cup.
Torres’ Panama sit just 1 point below the United States in the race for the third automatic Qualifying spot. They face Mexico at Azteca on the Sept. 1 after which they face Jones’ Trinidad and Tobago in what is a must win for both sides on Sept. Trinidad and Tobago also face Honduras on Sept. 1.
Lodeiro will join Uruguay, who sit third in the CONMEBOL WCQ table, to face Argentina in Uruguay on Aug. 31 before traveling to Paraguay to face them on Sept. 5.
Svensson will fly across the Atlantic, or probably actually over the Arctic, to join Sweden for a WCQ match against Bulgaria in Sofia on Aug. 31 and then travel to Barysaw to face Belarus on Sept. 3.
Our own Nouhou will also be joining the ranks of International footballers as he has received his first call up to the Cameroonian Senior side for their upcoming home and away series against Nigeria for CAF WCQ.
And last of all, Oneil Fisher has been called in for Jamaica's friendly against Canada on September 2.