SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Fatai Alashe has been called to the United States Under-23 National Team for a pair of friendlies against Brazil’s U-23s, with the first match being held at Ilha do Retiro Stadium in Recife on November 11 (3:00 p.m. PT) and the second at Mangueirão Stadium in Belém on November 15 (1:30 p.m. PT).
Alashe, 22, has been a regular with the U-23s, competing at the 2015 Toulon Tournament in France, as well as the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship in early October.
The U.S. secured a third-place finish in the 2015 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Championship, which extended its quest for a berth in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. The team will take on Colombia in March in a home-and-away playoff in one final qualifying opportunity.
"These matches against Brazil are a huge opportunity for us," head coach Andi Herzog said. "On one hand you have a strong challenging South American opponent in Brazil, with a playing style that's similar to that of Colombia, and on the other we'll get to experience playing in Brazil, which is where we hope to be next summer for the Olympics."
Alashe was the fourth overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft out of Michigan State University. He made 27 starts in 28 total appearances, tallying two goals and two assists for San Jose in 2015.
Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Cody Cropper (MK Dons; Maple Grove, Minn.), Charlie Horton (Leeds United; Cleveland, Ohio), Jon Kempin (Sporting Kansas City; Leawood, Kan.)
DEFENDERS (7): John Brooks (Hertha BSC; Berlin, Germany), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Tottenham Hotspur; Westcliff on Sea, England), Eric Miller (Montreal Impact; Woodbury, Minn.), Shane O’Neill (Royal Mouscron; Boulder, Colo.), Boyd Okwuonu (Real Salt Lake; Edmund, Okla.), Dave Romney (LA Galaxy; Irvine, Calif.), Oscar Sorto (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (6):Fatai Alashe (San Jose Earthquakes; Northville, Mich.), Julian Green (Bayern Munich; Tampa, Fla.), Alejandro Guido (Club Tijuana; Chula Vista, Calif.), Matt Polster (Chicago Fire; Milwaukee, Wisc.), Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids; Brighton, Colo.), Gedion Zelalem (Rangers; Bethesda, Md.)
FORWARDS (3): Jerome Kiesewetter (VfB Stuttgart; Berlin, Germany), Khiry Shelton (New York City FC; Leander, Tex.), Maki Tall (FC Sion; Washington, D.C.)
