Two of Seattle Sounders FC’s most consistent players this season were rewarded for their club play by receiving International call-ups. Sounders FC announced the pair will be taking part in the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Roldan will represent the Stars and Stripes while Ruidiaz will represent the la Blanquirroja.
QUALIFIER DEBUT
Roldan, 26, has 25 career caps for the U.S. Men’s national team, including five during the squad’s Concacaf Gold Cup-winning run this year, assisting on two goals. This is the first time in his career he has been called-up for World Cup Qualifying matches, having previously competed in friendlies, Gold Cup and Nations League matches.
The United States takes on El Salvador on September 2, Canada on September 5 and Honduras on September 8. Roldan has scored twice for the Rave Green in 2021 and has yet to lose any game he has appeared in this year in all competitions.Â
MARKSMAM FOR NATIONAL SIDE
RuidÃaz, 31, has 47 career caps for Peru, 19 of which were starts, and has appeared in four matches so far for the country’s 2022 World Cup Qualifying campaign. Previously, RuidÃaz made 11 appearances during Peru’s 2018 World Cup Qualifiers and two appearances in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
The Lima native looks to add to his tally of four career goals when La Blanquirroja takes on Uruguay on September 2, Venezuela on September 5 and Brazil on September 9.
REPRESENTING THE RAVE GREEN
RuidÃaz has scored 14 goals for the Rave Green this year, the most in MLS. Both Roldan and RuidÃaz started in last night’s 2021 MLS All-Star Game in Los Angeles, alongside their Seattle teammates Nouhou, João Paulo, Yeimar Gómez Andrade and Alex Roldan.
The six Seattle starters matched the All-Star Game record for starters from one team against a foreign opponent, first set in 2006 when D.C. United had six players in the starting lineup vs. Chelsea. After winning three road matches in seven days, Seattle returns to the Emerald City for a showdown against archrival Portland on Sunday, August 29 (7:30 p.m. PT / ESPN, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).
