SAN JOSE, Calif. – Four San Jose Earthquakes players have been called up by their respective senior national teams for the upcoming international window. Carlos Akapo (Equatorial Guinea), Carlos Gruezo (Ecuador), Jamiro Monteiro (Cape Verde), Miguel Trauco (Peru) will all represent the Quakes internationally in November.
Akapo, 30, has been called to the Equatorial Guinea national team for the CAF 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Equatorial Guinea will face Namibia on Wednesday, Nov. 15 (5:00 a.m. PT), and Liberia on Monday, Nov. 20 (8:00 a.m. PT). Akapo has scored one goal in 29 appearances for Equatorial Guinea. He ended the 2023 season with six goal contributions (two goals, four assists) in 28 appearances for the Quakes in 2023.
Gruezo, 28, has been called to the Ecuador national team for the second round of the South American 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Ecuador will face Venezuela on Thursday, Nov. 16 (2:00 p.m. PT) and Chile on Tuesday, Nov. 21 (3:30 p.m. PT). Gruezo has made 53 appearances for the Ecuador National Team, including FIFA World Cup and Copa America tournaments. He has featured in every match for the 2026 World Cup qualifying group stages, making three starts in four appearances.
Monteiro, 29, will represent Cape Verde for two matches for the CAF 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Cabo Verde will face Angola on Thursday, Nov. 16 (11:00 a.m. PT) and Eswatini on Tuesday, Nov. 21 (5:00 a.m. PT). Monteiro has scored two goals in 28 prior appearances for the Cabo Verde National Team. The Rotterdam native has tallied five goals and 12 assists across 59 appearances (56 starts) since joining the Quakes on Feb. 22, 2022.
Trauco, 31, has been called-up to the Peru national team for the second round of the South American 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Peru will play Bolivia on Thursday, Nov. 16 (12:00 p.m. PT) before facing Venezuela on Tuesday, Nov. 21 (6:00 p.m. PT). Trauco has made 71 prior appearances for Peru, including every group stage match during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, as well as helping Peru reach the 2022 FIFA World Cup inter-confederation playoff. The Tarapoto, Peru native has scored three goal and two assists in 30 appearances (25 starts) for San Jose.
