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 October.
All players will miss San Jose’s international friendly against C.D. Olimpia on Saturday, Oct. 14.
Carlos Akapo, 30, will represent Equatorial Guinea in a group stage match as they pursue qualification for the 2023 African Cup of Nations. Equatorial Guinea will face Burkina Faso on Friday, Oct. 13 (7:00 a.m. PT). Akapo has scored one goal in 29 appearances for Equatorial Guinea. He has made two goals and four assists in 26 appearances for the Quakes this season, most recently assisting the equalizing goal against Minnesota United FC.
Carlos Gruezo, 28, will represent Ecuador in the second round of the South American 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Ecuador will face Bolivia on Thursday, Oct. 12 (4:00 p.m. PT) and Colombia on Tuesday, Oct. 17 (4:30 p.m. PT). Gruezo has made 51 appearances for the Ecuador National Team, including FIFA World Cup and Copa America tournaments. He made one appearance during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, starting vs. Senegal.
Jamiro Monteiro, 29, will represent Cape Verde in a pair of international friendlies. Cabo Verde will face Algeria on Thursday, Oct. 12 (12:00 p.m. PT) and Comoros on Tuesday, Oct. 17 (6:00 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 57 appearances (56 starts) since joining the Quakes on Feb. 22, 2022.
Miguel Trauco, 31, will represent Peru in the second round of the South American 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Peru will face Chile on Thursday, Oct. 12 (5:00 p.m. PT) before facing reigning World Cup Champions Argentina on Tuesday, Oct. 17 (7:00 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 made three goal and two assists in 28 appearances (23 starts) for San Jose.
