SEATTLE, WASH. – Nine Sounders FC players have been called into international duty for 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers during the upcoming international break. 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) are all set to represent their respective countries as they vie for a spot in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Of note, Dempsey needs one goal to become the all-time leading scorer for the United States Men’s National Team, as the Nacogdoches native is currently tied with Landon Donovan with 57 career international tallies. Roldan earns his second-consecutive call-up after making his USMNT debut at the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, while Nouhou earns his first call-up for Cameroon and Svensson joins Sweden for the first time since January of 2016.
Dempsey, Morris, Roldan and the U.S. Men’s National Team face Costa Rica in New Jersey on September 1 (3:30 p.m. PT / ESPN, Univision, UDN) before traveling to San Pedro Sula to face Honduras on September 5 (2:30 p.m. PT / beIN SPORTS, UNIVERSO). Dempsey has 134 career international caps and 57 goals, and most recently tied Donovan’s scoring record at the Gold Cup earlier this summer. In that same tournament, Morris (22 caps, 5 goals) scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 win over Jamaica in the final, and Roldan (1 cap, 0 goals) made his international debut against Martinique in the Group Stage.
Torres (83 international caps, 13 goals) captains Panama for a pair of World Cup qualifiers against Mexico on September 1 at Azteca Stadium and on September 5 against Trinidad & Tobago in Panama City. Panama has seven points through six games (1-1-4) and is currently in the fourth and final qualifying position in the Hexagonal Round.
Before the September 5 match against Torres and Panama, Jones (63 caps, 6 goals) represents Trinidad & Tobago against Honduras on September 1. Trinidad & Tobago are currently at the bottom of the Hex with three points through six games (1-5-0).
Lodeiro is set to join Uruguay for a pair of qualifiers against Argentina at home on August 31 before traveling to Paraguay on September 5. Lodeiro has 50 caps and four goals for Uruguay, who currently sits third in the table in CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying with 23 points (7-5-2), with the top five teams advancing.
Svensson joins Sweden for the first time since January of 2016 for a pair of UEFA World Cup Qualifiers at Bulgaria on August 31 and at Belarus on September 3. Svensson has six career caps for Sweden, who is currently atop Group A with 13 points (4-1-1), level with France and three points clear of the Netherlands with four matches remaining in the Group Stage.
Nouhou earns his first call-up for Cameroon and joins the squad for a pair of qualifiers against Nigeria on September 1 and then at home on September 4. Cameroon has two points (0-0-2) in Group B of the Group Stage of AFCON 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying, four points behind Nigeria for the top spot and qualification to Russia.
Fisher has been called into Jamaica for a friendly against Canada in Toronto on September 2. Fisher has seven caps for Reggae Boyz, who did not qualify for the Hex.
Sounders FC faces the Portland Timbers tonight in a Cascadia clash between the two top teams in the Western Conference. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field, with a nationally televised broadcast on FS1.
