As MLS takes a week off for an international break next weekend, five Minnesota United players will be in action with their national teams. Michael Boxall (New Zealand), Francisco Calvo (Costa Rica), Kevin Molino (Trinidad and Tobago) and Johan Venegas (Costa Rica) will all be participating in World Cup Qualifying matches and Jermaine Taylor (Jamaica) will be involved in international friendlies.
After playing in the FIFA Confederations Cup earlier this summer, Boxall and his fellow Kiwis are entering their final round of qualifying in the Oceania region (OFC). New Zealand will take on the Solomon Islands in a two-match series on September 1 and 5, with the winner moving on to face the fifth-place team from South America (CONEMBOL) for a spot in the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The All Whites have finished first in OFC qualifying the past two World Cup cycles.
Currently sitting in second place in the fifth round of CONCACAF qualifying — known as the Hexagonal or the Hex — Calvo, Venegas and Costa Rica are entering arguably their toughest stretch in World Cup qualifying. The Ticos play the U.S. on September 1 at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey before returning home to take on first-place Mexico on September 5. With a commanding distance from the rest of the pack, Costa Rica has the potential to book its ticket to Russia if results are favorable.
Kevin Molino and Trinidad and Tobago have had a rough go of it in the Hex, currently sitting at the bottom of the table. However, they aren’t out of the race yet, as good results against Honduras on September 1 and Panama on September 5 could leapfrog the Soca Warriors past both teams and into fourth place. Automatic qualification may be out of reach for them, but that playoff spot at fourth is still very much up for grabs.
Though they were eliminated from World Cup Qualifying last year, Jamaica will be playing some international friendly matches against regional rivals. Jermaine Taylor will join the Reggae Boyz for a match against Canada on September 2 at BMO Field in Toronto.
The players will join their national team squads following this weekend’s match in Chicago and return before the Loons’ home match against Philadelphia Union on September 9.
