Four Sounders FC players called into international duty

SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC today announced that four players have been called into national team duty for the upcoming FIFA international break. Raúl Ruidíaz (Peru), Gustav Svensson (Sweden), Román Torres (Panama) and Jordy Delem (Martinique) are all set to depart following Saturday’s match vs. Sporting Kansas City (1:00 p.m. PT / Univision Deportes Network, UniMás, JOEtv, Twitter, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM) and represent their nations in the upcoming FIFA international window.

Ruidíaz joins Peru for a pair of European-based friendlies, beginning with a match against the Netherlands on Thursday, September 6 in Amsterdam before facing Germany on Sunday, September 9 in Sinsheim. This marks Ruidíaz’s first international call-up since the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where he made two substitute appearances in Group C matches versus Denmark on June 16 and France on June 21. In all, the striker has 31 career caps and four goals for the Peruvian National Team.

Svensson is also making his first international appearance since this summer’s FIFA World Cup, where he made three appearances as Sweden advanced to the Quarterfinal Round. Svensson, who has 14 career caps, joins Blågult for a friendly versus Austria on September 6 in Vienna before hosting a UEFA Nations League match against Turkey on Monday, September 10.

Torres captains Panama in a friendly against Venezuela on Tuesday, September 11 in Panama City, in his first international match since the FIFA World Cup in Russia. Torres has 97 career international appearances and 14 goals for Panama, including playing in all three games this summer in Russia.

Delem joins Martinique for the first match of CONCACAF Nations League play on September 11 against the British Virgin Islands. Delem has 36 career caps and five goals for Martinique. The CONCACAF Nations League serves as a form of qualification for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Prior to the scheduled FIFA international break, Sounders FC takes on Sporting Kansas City tomorrow, September 1 on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field (1:00 p.m. PT / Univision Deportes Network, UniMás, JOEtv, Twitter, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).