The Sounders completed their third day of practice Wednesday afternoon, and there were some National Team implications. Right after practice, center-back Jackson Ragen was diplomatic but showed some disappointment when he revealed that he received a call from the United States Men’s National team to participate in the squad’s January Camp. The euphoria was short-lived when the Sounders informed him that they would not release him.
GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE CLUB
Ragen has enjoyed a prosperous relationship with the club since his initial signing with the club. Ragen was with the Sounders Academy System for one year in 201-2021 before a star-studded career at Michigan from 2019-2021. The Sounders acquired Ragen’s MLS rights from the Chicago Fire in exchange for a third-round 2023 MLS Super draft pick in 2022. Last September, Jackson signed a contract extension through the 2027 season with a club option for 2027 last September.
CLUB VS COUNTRY
The push and pull between a club and the national team is an ongoing struggle, with both sides looking out for their best interest. A case can be made for both sides. While the January camp is not a FIFA Mandated, meaning clubs do not have to release a player, it is still considered a National Team appearance and a source of pride for most players. Mauricio Pochettino was named the USMNT coach last October . Pochettino’s first match was on October 12th against Panama. With the World Club less than two years away, any player would jump at an opportunity to make a lasting impression.
CLUB ASSETS
For MLS clubs, the January National training camp is a conundrum. No club wants to hold a player back from earning a National Team Cap. MLS has the shortest season of any professional league in North America. The season starts in February and runs till November. Sounders FC players had 44 days between their 1-0 loss to the LA Galaxy in the conference finals on November 30th and January 13th, the team’s first day of practice for the 2025 season. One can see why a club would be cautious about letting players participate in a January USMNT camp cumulates in two international friendlies.
INJURY FACTOR
For the Sounders, holding Ragen back is a fool me once, shame on you, and fool me twice, shame on me situation. Ragen suffered a slight knee injury during the USMNT January training camp last year and was sent back to the team for rehabilitation. And in a twist of fate, newly signed winger Jesus Ferreira was released from this year’s January training camp due to an undisclosed injury.
“After an initial medical and physical evaluation, Ferreira was provided an individual training program and will now join Seattle Sounders FC so he can focus on returning to full fitness,’ read the release by US Soccer. While the release make implies that the injury is not serious and has more to do with Ferreira’s fitness the fact he was released means there is some type of an injury concern.
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