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MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Three Sounders FC Players Called into International Duty

November 13, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


SEATTLE, WASH. - Three Sounders FC players have been called into international duty during the November FIFA window, with defender Nouhou and midfielder Josh Atencio representing their countries on the international stage. Nouhou joins Cameroon for a pair of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, while Atencio is called into the U.S. Men's Olympic Soccer Team as preparations for Paris 2024 continue. As previously announced, Sounders FC defender Stuart Hawkins is currently representing the United States at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023TM, which kicked off last week. Tacoma Defiance midfielder Antonio Herrera is also called into Mexico's U-18 Youth National Team for an international tournament in Marbella, Spain.

Nouhou, 26, has 27 career caps for Cameroon since 2018, playing every minute in all three of Cameroon's 2022 FIFA World CupTM matches, including the country's historic 1-0 win over Brazil. The Douala native most recently played all 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Russia on October 12 in an international friendly. Cameroon kicks off its 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with CAF Group D matches against Mauritius on November 17 (11:00 a.m. PT) in Douala, Cameroon before playing Libya on November 21 (8:00 a.m. PT) in Benghazi, Libya. The defender has appeared in 34 matches for the Rave Green in all competitions this year.

Atencio, 21, has represented the United States at both the U-15 and U-17 levels, making ten Youth National Team appearances since 2017 in various friendly matches. The midfielder is one of 20 players called into a training camp in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain, featuring matches against Iraq on November 18 and Morocco on November 21, both being played at Pinatar Arena as the team continues preparations for the 2024 Olympics next summer in Paris. The Bellevue native has appeared in 30 matches for Seattle in all competitions this year, scoring one goal.

Hawkins, 17, is currently representing the U-17 USYMNT at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Indonesia 2023TM. The defender made a substitute appearance in the United States' first match of the tournament, a 3-1 win over the Korea Republic on November 12. The Stars and Stripes have two remaining matches in the Group Stage, facing Burkina Faso on November 15 (1:00 a.m. PT / FS1) and France on November 18 (4:00 a.m. PT / FS1). The Fox Island native, who signed a First Team contract on September 13, made 24 appearances this year for Tacoma Defiance, scoring one goal.

Herrera, 18, joins the U-18 Mexico Youth National Team for a camp in Mexico City before traveling to Marbella, Spain for an international tournament. Mexico faces Japan on November 15, Romania on November 18 and England on November 21, with all matches being played at the Marbella Football Center. The midfielder appeared in 19 matches this year for Tacoma Defiance, scoring one goal.

Following a 1-0 win over FC Dallas on November 10 to win its best-of-three, Round One series against the Texas side, Sounders FC now hosts LAFC in the Western Conference Semifinals on Sunday, November 26 (6:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).

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