Iran came calling, and Steven Beitashour answered.
The San Jose Earthquakes announced on Monday that their right back accepted a call-up from the Iranian national team and will join Carlos Queiroz's squad for its camp ahead of its 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualifier on Oct. 15 against Thailand in Tehran.
Beitashour, 26, will leave the Quakes to join the national team following San Jose's Wednesday match against the Colorado Rapids (10:30 pm ET, MLS Live). He is scheduled to rejoin his MLS club following the Iran game.
The San Jose native is eligible for Iran through his parents, both of whom where born in the Middle Eastern country. Beitashour has yet to make an international appearance for any nation. He was called by Jurgen Klinsmann to the US national team ahead of its friendly against Mexico in August of 2012, but did not appear in the match. He was recalled for this past January's friendly vs. Canada, but was forced to withdraw due to injury.
Since being selected by the Quakes in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft, Beitashour has played in 84 matches, netting two goals and 16 assists. His best year was last season, in which he was a key member of San Jose's Supporters' Shield-winning squad and earned a starting spot for the MLS All-Stars.
Iran have already clinched a berth in next summer's World Cup. In two previous Asian Cup qualifying matches, they have a win – 5-0 over Lebanon – and a draw with Kuwait. The top two teams in the group join Australia, Japan, North Korea and South Korea in the final.
