Seattle Sounders FC players Cristian Roldan and Raúl Ruidíaz have been called into international duty and are set to join the United States and Peru, respectively, for upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches.
Roldan, 26, has 25 career caps for the U.S. Men’s national team, including five during the squad’s Concacaf Gold Cup-winning run this year, assisting on two goals. This is the first time in his career he has been called-up for World Cup Qualifying matches, having previously competed in friendlies, Gold Cup and Nations League matches. The United States takes on El Salvador on September 2, Canada on September 5 and Honduras on September 8. Roldan has scored twice for the Rave Green in 2021 and has yet to lose any game he has appeared in this year in all competitions.
Ruidíaz, 31, has 47 career caps for Peru, 19 of which were starts, and has appeared in four matches so far for the country’s 2022 World Cup Qualifying campaign. Previously, Ruidíaz made 11 appearances during Peru’s 2018 World Cup Qualifiers and two appearances in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The Lima native looks to add to his tally of four career goals when La Blanquirroja takes on Uruguay on September 2, Venezuela on September 5 and Brazil on September 9. Ruidíaz has scored 14 goals for the Rave Green this year, the most in MLS.
Both Roldan and Ruidíaz started in last night’s 2021 MLS All-Star Game in Los Angeles, alongside their Seattle teammates Nouhou, João Paulo, Yeimar Gómez Andrade and Alex Roldan. The six Seattle starters matched the All-Star Game record for starters from one team against a foreign opponent, first set in 2006 when D.C. United had six players in the starting lineup vs. Chelsea.
After winning three road matches in seven days, Seattle returns to the Emerald City for a showdown against archrival Portland on Sunday, August 29 (7:30 p.m. PT / ESPN, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).
