Weekly Update: Six Chicago Fire FC Players Called to National Team Duty as MLS Pauses for FIFA Window
September 18, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Chicago Fire FC News Release
CHICAGO – Chicago Fire FC today announced that six players have been called up to their respective national teams for a series of international competitions during the upcoming FIFA window.
Designated Player Xherdan Shaqiri has been called into the Swiss National Team for the team’s last two international matches ahead of the World Cup in Qatar. Defender Miguel Navarro will return to the Venezuelan National Team for a series of matches in Austria and forward Jhon Durán was named to the Colombian National Team roster for the first time with the full team for two contests here in the U.S. Goalkeeper Chris Brady and midfielder Brian Gutiérrez were named to the U.S. U-20 Youth National Team roster and midfielder Sergio Oregel Jr. was called into the U.S. U-19 Youth National Team camp.
Midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri will join his Swiss National Team for their final two international matches before the World Cup kicks off in November in Qatar. Switzerland’s first match of the upcoming series will take place on Saturday, Sept. 24 against Spain in Zaragoza, Spain before the team heads to St. Gallen, Switzerland where the team will take on the Czech Republic on Tuesday, Sept. 27.
Defender Miguel Navarro will join the Venezuelan Men’s National Team for two friendly matches in Austria. Jose Pekerman’s squad will face Iceland at 11:00 a.m. CT at Admira Wacker Stadium in Maria Enzerdorf – Südstadt, Austria. The team will then travel to face the United Arab Emirates at 10:00 a.m. CT at Wiener Neustadt Stadium in Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
Forward Jhon Durán has been called into the Colombian National Team for the first time in his career, having previously represented Colombia at the youth level. Colombia will play an international friendly against Guatemala at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, before taking on Mexico at 9:00 p.m. CT on Monday, Sept. 26 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
U.S. Soccer announced that goalkeeper Chris Brady and forward Brian Gutiérrez were named to the U.S. Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team roster for 2022 Revelations Cup in Mexico City, Mexico. The U-20 MYNT will face Peru on Wednesday, Sept. 21 AT 4:00 p.m. CT, Mexico on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 6:00 p.m. CT and Paraguay on Tuesday, Sept. 27 AT 9:00 p.m. CT.
Homegrown midfielder Sergio Oregel Jr. was called into national team duty for the U-19 U.S. Men’s Youth National Team, marking his fourth appearance with the U-19 side. Oregel Jr. will be reporting for the fourth annual Slovenia Nations Cup, which takes place in Terme Catez, Slovenia from Sept. 16-28. The U-19 USMYNT is scheduled for matches against Malta on Wednesday, Sept. 21 and Croatia on Friday, Sept. 23, before concluding play on Tuesday, Sept. 27 against Scotland.
Last Time Out
Chicago is coming off a 3-2 loss against Charlotte FC on Saturday, Sept. 17 at Soldier Field. With the defeat, the Fire were officially eliminated from postseason contention. Saturday’s match featured a goal from midfielder Mauricio Pineda just two minutes and 35 seconds into the match, his first of the season and fastest goal for Chicago so far this year. Jhon Durán also scored in the contest, notching his sixth goal of the season.
Upcoming Matches
The Fire will host an international friendly match on Saturday, Sept. 24, against Liga MX side Club León at SeatGeek Stadium at 5:00 p.m. CT. The match will be hosted and operated by Latin Entertainment Inc. and tickets are available on Ticketmaster and TicketsVIP.net.
Following the FIFA window, the Fire will return to league play on Saturday, Oct. 1 when the team travels to face FC Cincinnati at 6:30 p.m. at TQL Stadium. The match will be televised live on WGN-TV and CF97 Live, and transmitted locally in Spanish on TUDN 1200 AM.
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