Chivas USA today announced that midfielder Ramón Núñez has been called up by the Honduran Under-23 National Team to participate in Central American Olympic Qualifying starting this Friday, Nov. 9 in Panama City, Panama. In addition, Núñez, who turns 22 on Nov. 14, has also been called up by the full Honduran National Team for its upcoming friendly versus Guatemala on Nov. 17, a FIFA International Match Date, in the city of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
"Although I am sad that our great season with Chivas USA has come to an end, I now turn my attention to Honduras, as our U-23 team looks to book its ticket to the Beijing Olympics," said Núñez. "At the same time, I hope to show my best to el profesor Reinaldo Rueda with Honduras's senior national team in our upcoming friendly against Guatemala."
Núñez will seek his fourth cap with the full Honduran National Team when the Catrachos face Guatemala in an international friendly in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. on Nov. 17. The Chivas USA midfielder made his full international debut for Honduras earlier this year, coming on as a sub versus Costa Rica in a friendly at East Hartford, Conn.; he later saw action in friendlies vs. Ecuador (Sept. 12 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras) and Panama (Oct. 14 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras). Núñez is one of seven foreign-based players called up by Honduras manager Reinaldo Rueda, including forward David Suazo (Inter Milan/ITA), Birmingham midfielder Wilson Palacios and FC Köln midfielder Maynor Suazo.
Núñez traveled today to Panama, where he is expected to join the Honduran U-23 National Team, under head coach Alexis Mendoza, ahead of its Central American Olympic Qualifying group matches this weekend against El Salvador (Nov. 9) and Panama (Nov. 11). The team that finishes first in Honduras's three-team group earns a ticket to the CONCACAF Final Round Olympic Qualifying tournament, to be held March 11-23 in the United States; the second-place team will enter into a playoff against the second-place of the other three-team Central American qualifying group, comprising Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Guatemala.
In related news, U.S. Soccer and CONCACAF today announced that The Home Depot Center will host group matches during the 2008 CONCACAF Final Round Olympic Qualifying for Beijing 2008. The Home Depot Center host three doubleheaders each in group play on March 12, 14 & 16. Raymond James Stadium in Tampa will host the other group games, while LP Field in Nashville will host the semifinals on Thursday, March 20, and the championship match and third-place game on Sunday, March 23. Teams and ticket information for the games will be announced at a later date.
