SAN JOSE, Calif. – Midfielder Anibal Godoy and defender Harold Cummings will represent the San Jose Earthquakes at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, after the duo were named to Panama’s final 23-man roster by the Football Federation of Panama on Wednesday.
Panama earned its place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup by finishing third in the CONCACAF region’s fifth and final qualifying round, behind first-place Mexico and second-place Costa Rica with a 3-3-4 record.
Godoy, 28, appeared in all 10 of Panama’s qualifying matches in the Hex, making nine starts. Since making his first senior team appearance in 2010, Godoy has earned 88 caps for Panama, scoring one goal and providing four assists. He most recently started and played 45 minutes in Tuesday’s scoreless friendly against Northern Ireland. So far this season, Godoy has started all 12 of the Quakes matches, providing one assist, and serving as the team captain against Houston on April 14.
Cummings, 26, has made 51 prior appearances for Panama. He missed all of 2017 for both club and country due to an ankle injury, and returned to the squad for international friendlies in March against Denmark and Switzerland. The center back has started 10 matches for the Quakes thus far in 2018.
Four other MLS players accompany Cummings and Godoy on the final roster, including Fidel Escobar (New York Red Bulls), Adolfo Machado (Houston Dynamo), Michael Murillo (New York Red Bulls) and Roman Torres (Seattle Sounders FC).
The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia will take place from June 14 through July 15, and Panama will compete in Group G against Belgium (June 18 in Sochi), England (June 24 in Nizhny Novgorod) and Tunisia (June 28 in Saransk). All matches will be televised in the United States on Fox Sports and Telemundo.
Panama’s Final Roster
Goalkeepers: José Calderón (Chorrillo FC), Jaime Penedo (Dinamo Bucharest), Alex Rodríguez (San Francisco FC).
Defenders: Felipe Baloy (CSD Municipal), Harold Cummings (San Jose Earthquakes), Eric Davis (DAC Dunajska Streda), Fidel Escobar (New York Red Bulls), Adolfo Machado (Houston Dynamo), Michael Murillo (New York Red Bulls), Luis Ovalle (CD Olimpia), Román Torres (Seattle Sounders FC).
Midfielders: Edgar Barcenas (Cafetaleros de Tapachula), Armando Cooper (Club Universidad de Chile), Anibal Godoy (San Jose Earthquakes), Gabriel Gómez (Bucaramanga), Valentín Pimentel (Plaza Amador), Alberto Quintero (Universitario de Lima), José Luis Rodríguez (KAA Gent).
Forwards: Abdiel Arroyo (LD Alajuelense), Ismael Díaz (Deportivo La Coruña), Blas Pérez (CSD Municipal), Luis Tejada (Sports Boys), Gabriel Torres (CD Huachipato).
