The Pitch: 81 MLS Players Join National Teams Ahead of FIFA World Cup Qualifying

81 MLS Players Join National Teams Ahead of FIFA World Cup Qualifying

The October window of FIFA World Cup Qualifying is just around the corner, meaning many MLS players will be back in action at the international level as their respective countries pursue their goal of qualifying for Qatar 2022.

Already 81 players, from 24 MLS teams, have joined their national teams for the window, ahead of integral matches in FIFA World Cup Qualifying, an increase from the 76 players called up for the September window.

As the most internationally diverse league among top soccer leagues in the world, MLS players will represent 28 different nations across five confederations, including Concacaf, CONMEBOL, CAF, Oceania and UEFA.

A new face among the national team callups was Columbus Crew attacking midfielder Lucas Zelarayán. 

Zelarayán, who was born and raised in Argentina, has Armenian heritage through his father, and received the callup after scoring 13 goals and eight assists in just 42 games since transferring from Tigres of Mexico last year, having also led the Crew to an MLS Cup in 2020 and a win in the 2021 Campeones Cup just last week.

As FIFA World Cup Qualifying begins again this week, MLS players have already made incredible contributions to qualifications efforts throughout the globe.

Following just the big five leagues in Europe, MLS saw players make more appearances than any other league around the world during the September window.

Those appearances saw 67 players from 23 different countries appear in FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches for five of the six FIFA confederations. The number of players appearing in FIFA World Cup Qualifying also ranks just behind the big five in Europe as sixth-most by a league.

With the October window fast approaching, fans around the world will once again be cheering for MLS players as they step onto the global stage.

23 MLS Academy Products Join Teams From Four Countries for World Cup Qualifying

As Major League Soccer’s commitment to player development continues, the October FIFA Qualifying window sees 23 players who have been trained and developed in MLS academy environments receive callups for national team duty. Those players will not only prepare to pull on a jersey for the U.S. and Canada, but will also represent Honduras and Hungary.

With 12 MLS academy products on the U.S. team alone, just under half of the players called in have benefited from fully funded MLS academy systems. With the establishment of the elite player development platform MLS NEXT, that number will continue to rise as MLS academies and the other elite academies of MLS NEXT continue to provide professional training environments for developing talent.

Revs’ Buksa Among Top Three UEFA Goalscorers and Tracking for MLS History

New England Revolution forward Adam Buksa ranks among the top three goalscorers in UEFA qualifying matches for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. As a dominating force for both club and county, the Polish frontman leads the top-ranked Revolution with 13 goals, and his four international goals scored over three games in his debut call-up last month surpassed even fellow countryman Robert Lewandowski’s (Bayern Munich) tally during that span.

Buksa is posting some impressive marks among the top 25 UEFA goalscorers, of which he is the only player in that esteemed group to represent a non-European club. He leads the way in goals per 90 minutes (1.90), minutes per goal (47), goal conversion (80%), and is tied for best shot accuracy (100%) in just three international matches played.

For the Revs, Buksa is on the brink of breaking into MLS’ top three Polish scorers of all-time, as his 19 goals in league play are even with Robert Warzycha (Columbus Crew, 1996-2003), and closing in on Piotr Nowak (29 goals, Chicago Fire, 1998-2003), and current Philadelphia Union star Kacper Przybylko (32 goals, 2018-present), and he leads the group in minutes per goal (188.25).

Buksa returns to the international stage this week, when Poland takes on San Marino on Saturday, Oct. 9 (2:45 p.m. ET, TUDN / Univision / ESPN+) and Albania on Tuesday, Oct.12 (2:45 p.m. ET, TUDN / Univision / ESPN+).

Unsung Accolades for Colorado’s USMNT Hero Acosta

There’s an unsung hero on the U.S. Men’s National Team, and it’s Colorado Rapids midfielder Kellyn Acosta – the true definition of an MLS youth development success story. Acosta is an FC Dallas Academy product who, after being cut for USMNT January camp in 2019, has bounced back to earn 16 consecutive USMNT appearances since Dec. 2020 over a span that has produced a Concacaf Nations League title, his game-winning assist for the Concacaf Gold Cup crown, and the most consecutive appearances for the Stars and Stripes since Landon Donovan and Jeff Agoos in 2001-02.

Acosta is one of only two players to start and play every minute of both U.S. trophy-winning pursuits this summer, and his game-tying assist in the 1-1 World Cup qualifying match against Canada was literally a game-changer on Sept. 5. 

While his difference has been felt for country, Acosta’s 18 appearances for the No. 3 ranked Western Conference team has Colorado experiencing their best season in five years, with the midfielder serving as their backbone and heartbeat, getting stuck in all the way on a club-leading 30 tackles won this campaign.

With Acosta’s trajectory rising, this dominating defensive midfielder could be quite deserving of his due as the USA prepare to face Jamaica on Oct. 7 (7:30 p.m. ET, Univision / TUDN / ESPN2) and Panama on Oct. 10 (6 p.m. ET, Paramount+, Universo).

USMNT Set to Face Several MLS Stars in World Cup Qualifying Action

The U.S. Men’s National Team with 11 MLS players prepare to face a combined 10 more of the league’s stars from Jamaica, Panama, and Costa Rica, as the race to Qatar continues this window.

Jamaica will bring five MLS players including a duo of Philadelphia Union stars in Andre Blake and Alvas Powell on Oct. 7 in Austin. (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN / Univision / TUDN). Captain of the Reggae Boyz, Blake will look to claim his first win over the United States in competitive play, as the shot-stopper boasts the second-fewest goals allowed per 90 minutes in league games.

Next, the Stars and Stripes will venture to Panama City, Panama for the first time since 2017, where tied on points, they will meet Nashville SC captain and midfielder Anibal Godoy on Oct. 10 (6 p.m. ET, Paramount+, Universo).

The US will round out this qualification window with a match against a winless Costa Rican side that possesses four MLS players from four unique squads. Recently called-up Nashville SC defender Walker Zimmerman is likely to face off against two teammates in Panama’s Godoy and Costa Rica’s Randall Leal.

Twenty Years to the Day for USMNT, Bruce Arena, and Afghanistan

Saturday, October 9
New York Red Bulls vs. Inter Miami CF, 6 p.m. (Univision / TUDN)

• The Red Bulls extended their undefeated streak to five games with a third win in that time, defeating FC Cincinnati by the game’s only goal at TQL Stadium on Saturday evening. Andrew Gutman scored his second goal of the season, his first coming on April 25 in the second game of the season.
• Inter Miami CF saw their losing skid extended, falling by the game’s only goal to the Portland Timbers in the first meeting ever between the clubs, at Providence Park on Sunday afternoon.
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Fabio netted a pair of goals as the Red Bulls cruised to a 4-0 win at DRV PNK Stadium on Sept. 17.
• The teams met twice in Inter Miami’s inaugural season, each winning on the other’s home ground. The Red Bulls got goals from four different players in cruising to a 4-1 win Sept. 23 at DRV PNK Stadium; Matías Pellegrini and* Gonzalo Higuaín* scored second-half goals as Inter Miami came from behind for a 2-1 win Oct. 7 at Red Bull Arena.

FC Cincinnati vs. Philadelphia Union, 8 p.m.

• FC Cincinnati had their losing slide continue, dropping a decision by the game’s lone goal to the New York Red Bulls at TQL Stadium on Saturday evening.
• The Union extended their undefeated run to four games with a third victory in that time, defeating the Columbus Crew 3-0 at Subaru Park on Sunday evening. Jack Elliott scored directly from a free kick, Alejandro Bedoya scored his second goal of the season and Leon Flach netted his first career MLS tally for the Union goals.
• The teams have met four times during FCC’s first two seasons, and the Union have won three, without conceding a goal in the series. A year ago, the Union took a 3-0 win in the last meeting Oct. 7 at Subaru Park; they also reached a goalless draw Sept. 23 at Nippert Stadium.
• The teams met twice in FC Cincinnati’s inaugural season in MLS, and the Union won both, each by a 2-0 scoreline – March 30 at Nippert Stadium, and May 1 in Chester.

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 9 p.m. (TSN)

• Sounders FC won a third consecutive match, rolling to a 3-0 win against the Colorado Rapids at Lumen Field on Sunday evening. Cristian Roldan netted his fifth goal of the season for the opener, then assisted on scores from Jimmy Medranda and a wonder goal from Joao Paulo.
• Whitecaps FC extended their undefeated streak to four games with a second victory in that time, defeating the San Jose Earthquakes 3-0 at BC Place on Saturday evening. Brian White scored a hat trick, the first of his MLS career.
• The teams are meeting for the second time this season. They reached a 2-2 draw June 26 at Lumen Field.
• Sounders FC have a 10-game undefeated streak alive in the series, since the last Whitecaps FC win April 14, 2017, a 2-1 victory at BC Place. Seattle has won seven of the 10 league games in between, with three draws; Sounders FC also advanced in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2017 with a goalless draw and a 2-0 win at home.
• The teams have met the most times of any rivalry in soccer history in the USA and Canada. Since the clubs first met at Empire Stadium on June 9, 1974, in the old North American Soccer League, they have played 144 times over all competitions. The Sounders have won 70, the Whitecaps 50, and there have been 24 draws.

Sunday, October 10
Minnesota United FC vs. Colorado Rapids, 4 p.m.

• MNUFC rebounded with a scoreless draw with FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium. Tyler Miller was credited with four saves in recording his 10th shutout of the season, tied for third in MLS this season, his third in the last four matches.
• The Rapids saw their undefeated streak put to an end after 12 games, falling 3-0 to Seattle Sounders FC at Lumen Field on Sunday evening. The undefeated run was the second-longest in the club’s history, three games shy of the mark set during the 2016 season.
• The teams are meeting for the third time this season, and the Rapids won the first two, both at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Kellyn Acosta, Cole Bassett and* Danny Wilson* all netted goals in the second half as the Rapids overcame a two-goal deficit for a 3-2 win May 8, then Braian Galván and Andre Shinyashiki scored as the Rapids took a 2-0 win July 7.
• The Rapids have won the last four meetings at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park; MNUFC has won both meetings all-time at Allianz Field, though the Rapids took the final encounter at TCF Bank Stadium.
• The clubs also faced off in Round One of the MLS Cup Playoffs last year. Kevin Molino scored a pair of goals as MNUFC won 3-0 at Allianz Field on Nov. 21.