SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes midfielders Cordell Cato and Simon Dawkins and defender Shaun Francis have been called to their respective national teams for a series of FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. Cato will represent Trinidad and Tobago, while Dawkins and Francis will suit up for Jamaica. Both nations are attempting to advance to Round 5 of FIFA World Cup qualifying by finishing as one of the top two teams in their respective groups.
Trinidad and Tobago currently lead Group C with 10 points and a 3-0-1 record, ahead of the U.S.A. (7; 2-1-1), Guatemala (6; 2-2-0) and St. Vincent and the Grenadines (0; 0-4-0). T&T closes out Round 4 with matches against Guatemala at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad on Friday, September 2 at 4 p.m. PT, and against the United States at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida on Tuesday, September 6 at 5:15 p.m. PT.
Jamaica is currently in third place in Group B (4; 1-2-1), trailing Costa Rica (10; 3-0-1) and Panama (7; 2-1-1) and ahead of Haiti (1; 0-3-1). Jamaica will take on Panama at Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City, Panama on Friday, September 2 at 6:30 p.m. PT, before hosting Haiti at Independence Park in Kingston, Jamaica on Tuesday, September 6 at 6:30 p.m. PT.
Cato, 24, has made 15 prior appearances for T&T, scoring two goals. In his MLS career, Cato has tallied seven goals and nine assists in 95 games played. He has made eight starts in 12 total appearances this season for the Quakes.
Dawkins, 28, has earned 20 caps for Jamaica, scoring three goals. Now in his third season with the Earthquakes, after a two-year loan stint with the club from 2011-12, Dawkins has scored 17 goals and added five assists in 74 MLS appearances. He has appeared in 21 games (20 starts) for San Jose in 2016, recording three goals and two assists.
Francis, 29, has scored one goal in five prior appearances for Jamaica since his international debut in 2010. Over his seven-year MLS career, Francis has tallied five assists in 87 games played, making 15 starts for San Jose so far this season.
