SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC defenders Xavier Arreaga (Ecuador) and Alex Roldan (El Salvador) have been called up for upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. The pair join Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan, who were named to the U.S. Men’s National Team roster on Friday, making four Seattle players taking part in World Cup qualifying matches January 27-February 2. Additionally, Sounders FC midfielder Obed Vargas has been called into U.S. U-20 Youth National Team camp in Bradenton, Florida.
Arreaga, 27, has become a mainstay for the Ecuador squad, appearing in eight matches in the qualifying rounds so far, starting seven. He added one goal during qualifying in a 6-1 win over Colombia on November 17, 2020. The defender has a total of 14 appearances and 13 starts for Ecuador, with his debut coming on November 21, 2018, in a friendly against Panama. La Tri currently sits in third place in the CONMEBOL standings (7-5-2, 23 points) and is set to play Brazil on January 27 and Peru on February 1.
Roldan, 25, continues his breakout stretch for El Salvador, earning his first appearance with the squad during the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup where he recorded his first goal in a 2-0 win against Guatemala on July 12. The Seattle University product recorded 12 international caps in 2021, starting 10 and recording another goal in a World Cup qualifying match against Jamaica. Roldan has also worn the captain’s armband for multiple games during El Salvador’s World Cup qualifying campaign. La Selecta sits at seventh place in the Concacaf standings (1-4-3, 6 points) and is scheduled to play the United States on January 27, Honduras on January 30 and Canada on February 2.
Vargas, 16, joins the U.S. U-20 YNT for camp in Bradenton, Florida from January 24-February 2. Head Coach Mikey Varas has called up 26 players as the side prepares for this summer’s 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship, which will serve as qualification to the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2024 Summer Olympics. Vargas signed a First Team contract in the offseason after making his MLS debut in a 1-0 win over Austin FC last summer via Extreme Hardship, becoming the third-youngest player in league history to play in a MLS match (15 years and 351 days).
Sounders FC continues to prepare for the 2022 season, kicking off the competitive calendar with a home-and-away series against F.C. Motagua in the 2022 Concacaf Champions League. Seattle plays in Honduras on February 17 before hosting Motagua on February 24 at Lumen Field. The Rave Green’s 2022 MLS campaign begins at home on February 27 vs. Nashville SC.
