SEATTLE, WASH. – Three Sounders FC players have been called into international duty during the January FIFA window. Nouhou has been named to Cameroon’s roster for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on January 9, while Jackson Ragen and Josh Atencio are set to join the U.S. Men’s National Team’s 25-man roster for January Camp in Orlando from January 8-16, followed by a friendly match against Slovenia. This marks the first career senior National Team callup for both Atencio and Ragen. Additionally, Tacoma Defiance midfielder Antonio Herrera has been called-up to the U-20 Mexican National Team for a tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Nouhou, 26, has 28 career caps for Cameroon since 2018, playing every minute in all three of Cameroon’s 2022 FIFA World CupTM matches, including the country’s historic 1-0 win over Brazil. Cameroon is set to play a friendly against Zambia on January 9 before it starts AFCON play. Les Lions Indomptables begins Group C action on January 15 against Guinea (9:00 a.m. PT) before facing Senegal on January 19 (9:00 a.m. PT) and Gambia on January 23 (9:00 a.m. PT). The defender appeared in 35 matches for the Rave Green during the 2023 season.
Atencio, 21, was most recently called-up to the U.S. Olympic Men’s Team in November, and has previously represented the U.S. at both the U-15 and U-17 levels, making 10 Youth National Team appearances since 2017. Following January Camp, the USMNT is set to face Slovenia on January 20 at Toyota Field in San Antonio, Texas (12:00 p.m. PT / TNT, MAX, Peacock). The Bellevue native appeared in 31 matches for Seattle in all competitions last season, scoring one goal.
Ragen, 25, earns his first callup to the U.S. Men’s National Team, as the Sounders FC Academy product joins Atencio for January Camp and the Slovenia friendly. Ragen helped anchor a backline for Seattle last season that was tied for fewest goals allowed in MLS (32). After signing a First Team contract prior to the 2022 season, Ragen enjoyed his best year with the club in 2023, appearing in 39 matches across all competitions for the Rave Green.
Herrera, 18, joins the U-20 Mexican National Team for Torneo del Sol, a tournament taking place in Guadalajara, Mexico. Herrera previously was called-up to the Mexico U-19s for a tournament in Marbella, Spain, where the midfielder appeared on the bench for a match against England. Herrera appeared in 19 matches in 2023 for Tacoma Defiance, scoring one goal.
Sounders FC is currently in the middle of its offseason, as preparations continue for the 2024 regular-season campaign, which kicks off on Saturday, February 24 against LAFC at BMO Field (1:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, FOX, iHeartMedia, El Rey 1090 AM).
