SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Michael Baldisimo has named to the Philippine Men’s National Team for a pair of matches this month that will dually serve as FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 Preliminary Joint Qualifiers (Round 2). The Philippines face Iraq over two legs, first away in Iraq on Thursday, March 21 (12:00 p.m. PT), and then again at home on Tuesday, March 26 (4:00 a.m. PT).
Baldisimo, 23, has previously represented the Canadian Men’s Youth National Team at the Under-17, U-20, and U-23 levels. He was named to the U-20 squad for the 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship and to the U-23 squad for the 2020 Concacaf Olympic Qualifying Championship.
The midfielder, who is of Filipino descent, was also eligible to play for the Philippines and was subsequently called up in November 2021 by their Men’s National Team to compete in the rescheduled 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup. Though he accepted the invite, he eventually withdrew due to injury. He now stands on the cusp of making his international debut at senior level.
After spending his first four professional seasons with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Baldisimo was selected by San Jose in Stage 2 of the 2022 Major League Soccer Re-Entry Draft in November 2022. He signed a contract with the club at the start of the 2023 season and has amassed one goal and three assists in 58 total Major League Soccer appearances across both teams.
