MLS LA Galaxy

LA Galaxy Defenders Kelvin Leerdam and Eriq Zavaleta Called up for International Duty

September 1, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
LA Galaxy News Release


LOS ANGELES - The LA Galaxy today announced that defenders Kelvin Leerdam (Suriname) and Eriq Zavaleta (El Salvador) were called up by their respective national teams for the upcoming international window from Sept. 4 - 12. Additionally, LA Galaxy Academy forward Ruben Ramos Jr. and midfielder Paulo Rudisill were called up to the U.S. U-17 Men's Youth National Team for the upcoming Václav Ježek Cup in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic from Sept. 1-11.

Leerdam, 32, was named to the Suriname National Team that will square off against Grenada at Kirani James National Stadium in St. George's, Grenada, in a Concacaf Nations League match on Friday, Sept. 8 (4:00 p.m. PT), before playing Cuba at Antonio Maceo Stadium in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba on Tuesday, Sept. 12 (1:00 p.m. PT). Leerdam has tallied two assists in 14 career appearances (13 starts) for Suriname. Leerdam has recorded one goal and one assist in 13 regular-season games played (8 starts) for LA during the 2023 campaign. In 29 career games played (15 starts) across all competitions for the Galaxy, Leerdam has recorded one goal and two assists.

Zavaleta, 30, was named to the El Salvador National Team roster that will face off against Guatemala at Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City, Guatemala on Thursday, Sept. 7 (7:00 p.m. PT), before squaring off against Trinidad and Tobago at Jorge "Mágico" González Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 10 (7:00 p.m. PT). The Westfield, Ind., native has tallied two goals in 24 career appearances (23 starts) for El Salvador. Zavaleta has made eight regular-season appearances (3 starts) for the Galaxy during the 2023 campaign.

In eight appearances (6 starts) with LA Galaxy II during the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season, Ramos Jr., 16, has recorded two goals and one assist. Rudisill, 17, has tallied one goal in 2 appearances (1 start) for Los Dos this season. Notably, Ramos Jr. and Rudisill were part of the LA Galaxy Academy U-17 team that defeated Real Colorado U-17s 4-2 in the final of the 2023 U-17 MLS NEXT Cup to become champions of the tournament at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas on June 25.

The U.S. U-17 Men's Youth National Team will face Switzerland, host Czech Republic and Ukraine at the Václav Ježek Cup in some of its final preparation matches before the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Indonesia, set for Nov. 10-Dec. 2.

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