As usual, the Honduran national team will have a strong MLS influence when they take the pitch later this month.
Five MLS players were part of the squad Luis Fernando Suaáez called in for the Copa Centroamericana, which will be played in Costa Rica from Jan. 18-27. Those games – as many as four, should Honduras advance to the final – serve as both the qualifying process for this summer’s Gold Cup as well as a tune-up for World Cup qualifying, which begins with a huge home date vs. the US on Feb. 6.
It’s expected that the Copa Centroamericana squad will form the bulk of the World Cup qualifying squad for Honduras.
Heading the list is Houston’s Boniek García, the 2012 MLS Latino del Año winner. He’s joined by San Jose duo Marvin Chávez and Víctor Bernárdez, Seattle attacker Mario Martínez and New England striker Jerry Bengtson (above).
FULL HONDURAS NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER
Goalkeepers: Donis Escober (CD Olimpia), Kevin Hernández (Real España), José Mendoza (CD Marathón)
Defenders: Brayan Beckeles (CD Olimpia), Wilmer Crisanto (CD Victoria), Juan Carlos García (CD Olimpia), Arnold Peralta (CDS Vida), Josá David Velasquez (CD Victoria), Víctor Bernárdez (San Jose Earthquakes), Juan Pablo Montes (CD Necaxa)
Midfielders:Boniek García (Houston Dynamo), Mario Martínez (Seattle Sounders FC), Marvin Chávez (San Jose Earthquakes), Luis Garrido (CD Olimpia), Miguel Castillo (CD Victoria)
Forwards:Jerry Bengtson (New England Revolution), Georgie Welcome (CD Motagua), Mitchel Brown (CD Marathón), Junior Lacayo (CD Victoria), Luis Lobo (Real España)
