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Real Salt Lake Striker Rubio Rubin Named to Guatemala Roster

March 18, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


HERRIMAN, Utah - Real Salt Lake FW Rubio Rubin has been selected for the Guatemala National Team's upcoming matches away at Belize on Friday, March 24 and home against French Guiana on Tuesday, March 27. Due to his international obligations in this FIFA window, the third-year RSL striker will miss the Claret-and-Cobalt's next home game at America First Field, slated for Sat., March 25 against St. Louis City SC.

Last summer, Rubin made the one-time federation switch to represent Guatemala, having previously appeared for the United States. Just days later, Rubin, now 27, made his Guatemalan debut to represent the country of his Mother's birth on June 2, 2022, against French Guiana, during the CONCACAF Nations League tournament. Since then, Rubin has made five additional appearances, scoring two goals, both of which came against the Dominican Republic on June 14, 2022.

"I want to pursue my dream of playing in the World Cup, that's the dream many of us have had since we were children, that is why I am here," said Rubin at the time. "This was a difficult decision for me to make, after playing seven games for the U.S. senior national team. But now I am here, I want to excel for Guatemala. I will give everything for this team, I embrace the pressure to lead and to score goals to help us qualify for 2026. I am very appreciative of Real Salt Lake for supporting me with this opportunity."

The 2012 U.S. Soccer Youth Player of the Year, Rubin appeared in 51 games for the U.S. U-17, U-20 and U-23 teams from 2011-15, scoring 20 goals for the Stars and Stripes. The Beaverton, OR native - born to a Guatemalan mother and a Mexican father - then appeared in seven matches for the USA senior national team as a European-based club player. Rubin made his USMNT debut as an 18-year old back on Nov. 14, 2014, a 2-1 defeat to Colombia, nearly providing the equalizing header in the second half.

With Real Salt Lake, Rubin came out of the gates red-hot to kick off the 2021 season, his first in Major League Soccer. The former Liga MX player scored five goals in his first eight games, including a scintillating bicycle kick goal against visiting San Jose at Rio Tinto Stadium which was later recognized as the MLS 2021 Goal of the Year. Across all competitions, Rubin owns nine MLS goals across 63 games with the Claret-and-Cobalt since the beginning of the 2021 season.

The Beaverton, Oregon-born forward just kicked off his third campaign with Real Salt Lake, having recorded nine goals and five assists in 37 starts, a total which includes his game-winning goal in the 2022 "Decision Day" home victory over Portland, which vaulted RSL into the postseason for the fourth time in five years, and the 12th occasion in 15 seasons played since 2008 for the Utah side.

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