Seven additional Sounders FC players called into international duty

SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC today announced that seven additional players have been called into international duty: Xavier Arreaga (Ecuador), Jordy Delem (Martinique), Joevin Jones (Trinidad & Tobago), Nouhou (Cameroon U-23), Raúl Ruidíaz (Peru), Brad Smith (Australia) and Gustav Svensson (Sweden) will all join their respective national teams this week. When combined with last week’s U.S. Men’s National Team callups, Sounders FC is set to have 10 total First Team players on international duty for the upcoming FIFA window. Additionally, Sounders FC Assistant Coach Gonzalo Pineda is joining the U.S. U-23 MNT coaching staff training camp this week in Chula Vista, California ahead of a matchup with Japan on September 9.

Arreaga joins Ecuador for a pair of friendlies, beginning on Thursday, September 5 with a matchup against Ruidíaz and Peru at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey. La Tricolor then hosts Bolivia on Tuesday, September 10. The defender made his lone international appearance in a friendly against Panama on November 20, 2018, but was included on the bench for three Group Stage matches during this summer’s 2019 Copa América.

Delem and Jones join Martinique and Trinidad & Tobago, respectively, for a pair of 2019-2020 CONCACAF Nations League Group Stage matches between the two countries. Martinique hosts the first match in Fort-de-France on Friday, September 6, then travels to Couva on Monday, September 9 for the second meeting in Trinidad & Tobago.

Nouhou has been called into the Cameroon U-23 National Team for a pair of fixtures against Tunisia for 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations. Cameroon hosts the first match on Friday, September 6 before traveling to Tunisia on Tuesday, September 10. Should Cameroon advance on aggregate, it would qualify for this November’s 2019 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations.

Ruidíaz is set to join Peru for a pair of U.S.-based friendlies, beginning with the aforementioned matchup with Arreaga and Ecuador on Thursday, September 5 at Red Bull Arena. La Blanquirroja then travel to Los Angeles for a friendly vs. Brazil on Tuesday, September 10 at the LA Coliseum.

Smith has been called into Australia for a week of camp in the United Arab Emirates in the Socceroos first step in preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Australia is set to face Kuwait in a road match on Tuesday, September 10 in the first match of Group B action in AFC 2022 World Cup qualifying.

Svensson has been named to Sweden's roster for a pair of upcoming UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifying matches. The Blågult travel to face the Faroe Islands on Thursday, September 5 before hosting Norway on Sunday, September 8. Sweden is currently tied for second with seven points (2-1-1) alongside Romania in Group F, five points shy of first-place Spain.

Pineda is set to join Head Coach Jason Kreis’ staff for U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team camp from September 1-10 at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, just south of San Diego, as part of preparations to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games next summer. The U-23 MNT faces 2020 Olympic host Japan in a friendly on September 9 in Chula Vista. CONCACAF recently announced that the 2020 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship will be held March 20-April 1 in Guadalajara, Mexico, in which two teams from the region will qualify.

Following a thrilling 4-3 win on Sunday over Western Conference rival LA Galaxy, Sounders FC (13-8-7, 46 points) travels to face the Colorado Rapids (8-14-6, 30 points) on Saturday, September 7 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park (6:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, YouTube TV, 1090 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).