By Anonymous (not verified), March 22, 2022
|
MLS Pipeline Powers U.S. & Canada Men’s National Teams |
|
With a chance for the United States and Canada to both qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in history, both national teams will prominently feature current MLS talent and MLS academy products, as they enter the final round of Concacaf Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 this week.Ten current MLS players received the U.S. Men’s National Team’s call, including: Kellyn Acosta (LAFC), Paul Arriola (FC Dallas), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas), Sean Johnson (NYCFC), Aaron Long (New York Red Bulls), Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United FC), Cristian Roldán (Seattle Sounders FC), DeAndre Yedlin (Inter Miami CF) and Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC). Additionally, 16 of the 28 USMNT players called up for this window received their professional start with MLS clubs or club academies.With two matches on deck this week, the USMNT first travels to Mexico City and iconic Azteca Stadium to face the Galaxy’s Julian Araujo and Mexico on Thursday (10 p.m. ET, Paramount+, UniMás, TUDN, CBS Sports Network). The stars-and-stripes next turn their attention to Panama – a squad featuring Houston Dynamo midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla and Nashville SC midfielder Aníbal Godoy – as the team returns to Orlando’s Exploria Stadium on Sunday in a crucial contest for both nations (7 p.m. ET, FS1, UniMás, TUDN). Meanwhile, Canada, also powered by 10 current MLS players, sits atop the table, looking to secure its second-ever World Cup berth and the first since 1986. The Canadian squad features Maxime Crépeau (LAFC), Dayne St. Clair (Minnesota United FC), Cristián Gutiérrez (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Doneil Henry (LAFC), Alistair Johnston (CF Montréal), Kamal Miller (CF Montréal), Mark-Anthony Kaye (Colorado Rapids), Ismael Koné (CF Montréal), Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC) and Lucas Cavallini (Vancouver Whitecaps FC). Two other Canadians – Sam Adekugbe and Liam Fraser – were developed in MLS academies. Canada’s quest to qualify begins on Thursday as they face off against Costa Rica at Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica (10:05 p.m. ET, Paramount+). Two MLS standouts – Ronald Mataritta (FC Cincinnati) and Francisco Calvo (San Jose Earthquakes) – will mount the Costa Rican defense as they look to gain ground in the table. Canada returns home on Sunday, as they welcome a Jamaican team featuring Damion Lowe (Inter Miami CF) and Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union) to Toronto’s BMO Field (4:05 p.m. ET, Paramount+).
|