SEATTLE, WASH.– Four additional Sounders FC players have been called into international duty for the upcoming June FIFA window. Albert Rusnák, Xavier Arreaga, Nouhou and Reed Baker-Whiting are set to report to Slovakia, Ecuador, Cameroon and U.S. U-19 MYNT, respectively, joining Cristian Roldan and Jordan Morris (United States), who were previously announced.
Rusnák, 27, has started 22 of his 34 international appearances for Slovakia after making his debut on November 15, 2016 in a friendly against Austria. The midfielder has seven goals in international play, most recently scoring a brace in a 6-0 win over Malta in a 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier on November 14, 2021. Slovakia faces Belarus on June 3, Kazakhstan twice on June 6 and 13 and Azerbaijan on June 10 in UEFA Nations League action. Rusnák has one goal in 19 appearances for Seattle across all competitions in 2022.
Arreaga, 27, has 15 career caps for Ecuador and was a mainstay during the nation’s successful 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign, starting seven of nine appearances and scoring in a 6-1 win over Colombia on November 17, 2020. Ecuador is set to play three U.S.-based friendlies against Nigeria, Mexico and Cape Verde on June 2, 5 and 11 respectively. Arreaga has one goal in 18 starts for the Rave Green across all competitions in 2022.
Nouhou, 24, has 14 career caps for Cameroon, most recently coming a successful 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign where he started five of his six appearances. After an exhibition on June 4, Les Lions Indomptables are set to play Burundi in 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier on June 8. Nouhou has appeared in 18 matches for Sounders FC this year across all competitions.
Baker-Whiting, 17, joins the U.S. U-19 Men’s Youth National Team in Marbella, Spain for upcoming friendlies against England on June 6 and Norway on June 9. All 20 players called to Spain are age-eligible for this summer’s 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship in Honduras, which serves as qualification for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics. Baker-Whiting has one appearance for Sounders FC and six for Tacoma Defiance in 2022.
Following Sunday's 2-1 win over Charlotte FC, Sounders FC heads into the June international break before hosting Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Tuesday, June 14 in the first Cascadia Cup matchup of the season between the two old rivals. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT, as Sounders FC looks to retain its Cascadia Cup crown.
