MLS San Jose Earthquakes

Five Earthquakes Players Called for International Duty

June 12, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


SAN JOSE, Calif. - Five San Jose Earthquakes players have been called up by their respective senior national teams for the upcoming international windows. Carlos Akapo (Equatorial Guinea), Cade Cowell (United States), Carlos Gruezo (Ecuador), Jamiro Monteiro (Cape Verde), and Miguel Trauco (Peru) will all represent the Quakes internationally in June and July.

Carlos Akapo, 30, will represent Equatorial Guinea in the fifth-round qualifiers in the 2023 African Cup of Nations. Equatorial Guinea will face Tunisia on Saturday, June 17 (8:00 a.m. PT). Akapo has scored one goal in 28 international appearances, including eight appearances as part of FIFA World Cup qualification. The Elche, Spain native has one goal in 12 appearances (9 starts) this season. Akapo will miss the Quakes' match against the Portland Timbers (June 17).

Cade Cowell, 19, will represent the United States in the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup. Drawn into Group A, Team USA will face Jamaica on Saturday, June 24 (6:30 p.m. PT), a team to be determined on Wednesday, June 28 (6:30 p.m. PT), and Nicaragua on Sunday, July 2 (4:00 p.m. PT). The Ceres, Calif. native has three prior caps with the senior national team, earned Man of the Match vs. Serbia on Jan. 26, 2023, and looks to make his first appearance with the senior team in official competition. Cowell will report to the USMNT training camp on June 20.

Carlos Gruezo, 27, has been called to the Ecuador National Team to compete in a pair of international friendlies in preparation for the CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Ecuador will face Bolivia on Saturday , June 17 (4:00 p.m. PT) and Costa Rica on Tuesday, June 20 (5:00 p.m. PT). Gruezo has made 47 appearances for the Ecuador National Team, including FIFA World Cup and Copa America tournaments. He made one appearance during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, starting vs. Senegal. Gruezo will miss the Quakes' matches against the Portland Timbers (June 17) and Houston Dynamo FC (June 21).

Jamiro Monteiro, 29, has been called to the Cape Verde National Team to compete in a group stage match as they pursue qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Cape Verde will face Burkina Faso on Sunday, June 18 (9:00 a.m. PT). Monteiro has scored two goals in 27 prior appearances for the Cape Verde National Team. The Rotterdam native has tallied four goals and 10 assists across 46 appearances (all starts) since joining the Quakes on Feb. 22, 2022. Monteiro will miss the Quakes' match against the Portland Timbers (June 17).

Miguel Trauco, 30, has been called to the Peru National Team to compete in a pair of international friendlies. Peru will face Korea on Friday, June 16 (4:00 a.m. PT) before traveling to face Japan on Tuesday, June 20 (2:55 a.m. PT). Trauco has made 68 prior appearances for Peru, including every group stage match during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, as well as helping Peru reach the 2022 FIFA World Cup inter-confederation playoff. The Tarapoto, Peru native has made one goal and two assists in 13 appearances (11 starts) for San Jose. Trauco will miss the Quakes' matches against the Portland Timbers (June 17) and Houston Dynamo FC (June 21).

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