
Five Chicago Fire FC Players Called to National Team Duty
November 13, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Chicago Fire FC News Release
CHICAGO - Chicago Fire FC today announced that five players have joined their respective national team for the FIFA international break in November. Midfielders Xherdan Shaqiri and Gastón Giménez joined the Switzerland National Team and Paraguay National team, respectively, and defender Miguel Navarro joined the Venezuela National Team. Additionally, forward Georgios Koutsias joined the Greece U-21 National Team and Homegrown goalkeeper Chris Brady joined the U.S. Men's Olympic Team.
Shaqiri and the Swiss Men's Nati will play three matches in EURO 2024 qualifying. Switzerland's Matchday 7 contest against Israel originally schedule for Thursday, Oct. 12, will be played at 1:45 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at Pancho Arena in Felcsút, Hungary. Switzerland will then play host to Kosovo at 1:45 p.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 18 at St. Jakob-Park in Basel before traveling to face Romania at 1:45 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at the National Arena in Bucharest, Romania. Switzerland currently sits in second place in the Group I standings with 15 points, one point less than Romania with one less match played.
Giménez returns to an Albirroja squad in the midst of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Paraguay will face Chile at 6:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, Nov. 16 at the Estadio Monumental David Arellano in Macul, Chile. The team will then host Colombia at 5 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at the Estadio Defensores del Chaco in Asuncion, Paraguay. Giménez and Paraguay split points in the previous international window, falling 1-0 Argentina on the road before defeating Bolivia 1-0 at home.
Navarro joins the Vinotinto for a third consecutive international window. After tying Brazil 1-1 and defeating Chile 3-0 in October, Venezuela looks to keep their good form as they host Ecuador at 4 p.m. CT on Thursday, Nov. 16, at the Estadio Monumental de Maturín in Maturín, Venezuela. The team then travels to face Peru at 8 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at the Estadio Nacional de Lima in Lima, Peru. Venezuela has seven points and is currently in fourth place in Conmebol qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, behind Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.
Koutsias and the Greece U-21 National Team are currently in fourth place in Group G standings in the UEFA EURO U-21 qualifying tournament. Greece is currently two points behind the Faroe Islands, who they face at 8 a.m. CT on Thursday, Nov. 16. The team will then host first-place Portugal at 8 a.m. CT on Monday, Nov. 20. Both matches will take place at Theodoros Kolokotronis Stadium in Tripoli, Greece.
Brady joins the U.S. Men's Olympic Team for a training camp in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain from Nov. 12-22. Led by head coach Marko Mitrović, the team will play a series of friendly matches as preparations continue for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. The USA qualified for its first Olympic Men's Football Tournament in 16 years with a dominant performance at the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship after. There, the U.S. topped host Honduras 3-0 before a raucous crowd in San Pedro Sula to secure its Olympic berth and Brady was awarded the Golden Glove as the top goalkeeper of the tournament.
Major League Soccer Stories from November 13, 2023
- Three Sounders FC Players Called into International Duty - Seattle Sounders FC
- Four Earthquakes Players Called for International Duty - San Jose Earthquakes
- Nine Loons Called up for International Duty - Minnesota United FC
- Sporting KC Weekly - Sporting Kansas City
- Columbus Crew Forwards Cucho Hernández and Jacen Russell-Rowe Called up to Respective National Teams for November FIFA International Window - Columbus Crew SC
- NYCFC Pair Selected for International Duty - New York City FC
- Seven Philadelphia Union Players Receive International Call Ups - Philadelphia Union
- Revolution Academy Midfielder Cristiano Oliveira Called up for Under-16 U.S. Youth National Team Training Camp - New England Revolution
- Five Chicago Fire FC Players Called to National Team Duty - Chicago Fire FC
- Cade Cowell, Alex Covelo to Join U.S. Men's Olympic Soccer Team for November Matches - San Jose Earthquakes
- Facundo Farías Called up by Argentina U-23 National Team - Inter Miami CF
- Sporting KC to Open SportingStudio in KC Power & Light District - Sporting Kansas City
- New York Red Bulls Defender John Tolkin Named to U.S. Men's Olympic National Team for November Friendlies - New York Red Bulls
- Colorado Rapids Homegrown Midfielder Cole Bassett Named to U.S. Men's Olympic Roster for November International Window - Colorado Rapids
- Charlotte FC's Mark Bodek Speaks at Best Buddies North Carolina Champion of the Year Gala - Charlotte FC
- Robert Taylor Called up by Finland - Inter Miami CF
- Benjamin Cremaschi Called up by U.S. Men's Olympic Team - Inter Miami CF
- Matt Miazga Named MLS Defender of the Year - FC Cincinnati
- FC Cincinnati's Matt Miazga Named MLS Defender of the Year 2023 - MLS
- John Pulskamp Joins U.S. Olympic National Team - Sporting Kansas City
- FC Dallas' Bernard Kamungo Receives U.S. Men's Olympic Team Call-Up - FC Dallas
- George Campbell Called up by U23 United States National Team - Club de Foot Montreal
- Julian Hall, Tanner Rosborough, and Sebasthian Chavez Called in to United States U-16 Youth National Team Training Camp in California - New York Red Bulls
- Houston Dynamo FC Will Host Sporting Kansas City in Western Conference Semifinals on Sunday, November 26 - Houston Dynamo FC
- Crew Earns 4-2 Win Over Atlanta United - Columbus Crew SC
- Atlanta United's Playoff Run Comes to an End, Falls 4-2 to Columbus Crew - Atlanta United FC
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