SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes defender Kip Colvey, midfielders Anibal Godoy and Vako, and forwards Marco Ureña and Chris Wondolowski have been called up to their respective national teams for the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and international friendlies.
Wondolowski, 34, returns to the U.S. Men’s National Team to face his Quakes teammate Anibal Godoy and Panama on Oct. 6 at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando, Fla. at 4:35 p.m. PT (ESPN2, Univision). The United States will then take on Trinidad & Tobago at Ato Boldon Stadium in Courva, Trinidad & Tobago at 5 p.m. on Oct. 10 (beIN SPORT, UNIVERSO). The U.S. is in fourth place in the qualifying group, sitting behind Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama with a 2-3-3 record and will need to move into the top three to secure an automatic bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and avoid the inter-continental playoff.
Since making his international debut in 2011, Wondolowski has made 35 appearances, scoring 11 goals and providing three assists for the U.S. He recently scored his 133rd career MLS goal and is now tied with Jaime Moreno for the third most goals in MLS history, just one shy of second.
"It's a roster we've selected that we believe will give us success in these next two games. We have a pretty balanced roster with experienced players," said head coach Bruce Arena. "The players always give the commitment, that's never an issue. The issue is whether we get the results we need, and I think we're positioned to do that. I think if it comes down to where we need four or six points in our last two games, I think that's fine and we'll get it done."
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION (Club; WCQ Caps/Goals):
GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Atlanta United FC; 15/0), Tim Howard (Colorado Rapids; 37/0), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake; 0/0)
DEFENDERS (9): DaMarcus Beasley (Houston Dynamo; 35/6), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City; 12/1), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City/ENG; 24/2), Omar Gonzalez (Pachuca/MEX; 16/0), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana/MEX; 6/1), Tim Ream (Fulham/ENG; 6/0), Jorge Villafaña (Santos Laguna/MEX; 4/0), DeAndre Yedlin (Newcastle United/ENG; (8/0), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City; 20/3)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; 5/0),Juan Agudelo (New England Revolution; 0/0), Paul Arriola (D.C. United; 5/1), Alejandro Bedoya (Philadelphia Union; 9/0), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC/CAN; 38/7), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City; 6/0), Dax McCarty (Chicago Fire; 0/0), Darlington Nagbe (Portland Timbers; 9/0), Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund/GER; 11/5), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy; 4/1)
FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC/CAN; 39/16), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC; 41/18), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes; 0/0), Bobby Wood (Hamburg/GER; 12/4)
Colvey, 23, and the New Zealand National Team will face Japan in an international friendly on Oct. 6 at Toyota Stadium in Nagoya, Japan. The friendly comes in preparation for the All-White’s intercontinental playoff against South America’s fifth-ranked nation in FIFA World Cup Qualifying.
Colvey most recently joined New Zealand in September for World Cup Qualifiers against the Solomon Islands where they earned a 6-1 victory on Sept. 1, and a 2-2 draw on Sept. 5 to become the last team standing in the Oceania region’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign.
Godoy, 27, returns to the Panama National Team to take on Quakes teammate Chris Wondolowski and the United States on Oct. 6 at 4:35 p.m. PT at Orlando City Stadium in Orlando, Fla.. Panama then faces Marco Ureña and Costa Rica on Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. PT at Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City, Panama. Panama currently sits in third place in the fifth and final round (hexagonal) of qualifying for CONCACAF behind Mexico and Costa Rica with 10 points and a 2-2-4 record.
Godoy last joined Los Canaleros for World Cup Qualifying matches against Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago, playing the full 90 minutes in the 3-0 win against T&T and the 1-0 loss to the Mexico. He has made a total of 83 appearances with the Panama National Team and has scored one goal and provided three assists dating back to 2010.
Vako, 24, joins the Georgia National Team to face Wales at Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in Tbilisi, Georgia on Oct. 6 at 9 a.m. PT, and then Serbia at FK Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade, Serbia on Oct. 9 at 11:45 a.m. PT.
Georgia currently sits in fifth place in Group D with a 0-3-5 record. Vako last joined Georgia for a pair of qualifiers in September, scoring in the 1-1 draw with Ireland and playing 92 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Austria. In his senior national team career, Vako has scored six goals in 26 appearances.
Ureña, 27, will link up with the Costa Rica National Team as they take on Honduras on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. PT at Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica in San Jose, Costa Rica, and Panama on Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. PT at Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City, Panama. The Ticos are in second place in the Hex behind Mexico with a 4-1-3 record and are just one point shy of securing a place in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Ureña most recently joined the Costa Rica National Team for a pair of qualifiers in September against the U.S. and Mexico, and proved to be the difference for the Ticos. The Quakes forward scored both goals in Costa Rica’s 2-0 win over the U.S., and scored the lone goal in the 1-1 draw with Mexico. In total, he has made 56 appearances for the senior squad, scoring 14 goals and providing four assists.
