Six Philadelphia Union Players Earn International Call-Ups

Six Philadelphia Union players have been selected to represent their countries for the September FIFA international window, tying for second most amongst MLS sides. Inter Miami tops the list with nine senior international call-ups, while Atlanta United also had six players earn spots on national teams.

Goalkeeper Andre Blake and defender Damion Lowe both earned spots on Jamaica’s national team for its upcoming Concacaf Nations League matches. Midfielders Jesus Bueno and Jose Martinez were called up by Venezuela for its World Cup qualification matches. Defender Olivier Mbaizo was rostered for Cameroon in its Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches, while Tai Baribo was named to the Israeli national team for its Euro 2024 qualifying matches. Additionally, midfielder Daniel Gazdag was also selected to the Hungarian roster, but will not travel to play due to an injury. 

Blake, who captains Jamaica and has made 69 appearances for the Jamaican national team, will return alongside Lowe when Jamaica takes on Honduras and Haiti. Lowe, with 55 international caps, has contributed three goals and an assist. Jamaica is set to face Honduras on Sept. 8 at 9 p.m. and Haiti on Sept. 12 at 8 p.m.

Bueno selection, the first for the 24-year-old, comes after scoring two goals and registering three assists in six starts in Leagues Cup play for the Union. Martinez has 23 appearances for Venezuela, the most recent of which was in June in a friendly against Honduras. Venezuela will challenge Colombia on Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. and Paraguay on Sept. 12 at 6 p.m.

Mbaizo has 12 appearances with Cameroon after making his Cameroonian debut in 2016. His most recent appearance for the squad came in June in a friendly against Mexico, where he logged 55 minutes. Cameroon is scheduled to compete against Burundi in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Sept. 12 at 3:00 PM.

Baribo has three goals in 11 appearances with the Israeli national team, including a goal in a 2-1 UEFA Nations League victory against Albania. Israel’s upcoming fixtures include matches against Romania on Sept. 9 at 2:45 p.m. and Belarus on Sept. 12 at 2:45 p.m.