26 MLS players, including Dynamo midfielder Lovel Palmer, have been called up to international duty in this week's FIFA fixture date, though two will not report for their countries.
MLS Rookie of the Year Andy Najar declined an invitation from the Honduran national team, while New England Revolution and Gambia winger Kenny Mansally will not travel to Hebron due to a cancellation of the The Scorpions scheduled match against Palestine.
In Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Jamaica and Costa Rica square off, and the two teams have called four and two MLSers, respectively. Palmer, Shavar Thomas, and O'Brian White are among the Jamaica selections. Also lining up for the Reggae Boyz is Dane Richards, who will face New York Red Bulls teammate Roy Miller of Costa Rica.
The U.S. lead the way in MLS call-ups, with Bob Bradley calling nine players into camp. Three of them will be earning their first cap for the Nats; 17-year-old striker Juan Agudelo's strong performance against the San Jose Earthquakes in the Eastern Conference semifinal earned him a look, while teammate Tim Ream will make the trip after being edged out by Najar for top rookie honors. Teal Bunbury has caused a stir, as the Hamilton, Ontario, native has seemingly decided not to represent Canada.
Like Bunbury, the Seattle Sounders' Steve Zakuani was faced with a choice of which national team to represent. The winger has made that decision and will represent the country of his birth, the Democratic Republic of Congo, in their match against Mali in the Parisian suburb of Evreux.
Sunil Chhetri's availability is in doubt for India's Thursday clash against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai. The Kansas City Wizards' forward missed out on the team's last two matches, a 2-0 loss to Iraq on Nov. 11 and a 9-1 blowout at the hands of Kuwait on Sunday.
CALL-UPS
Chicago Fire: Logan Pause (USA)
Chivas USA: Jonathan Bornstein (USA), Giancarlo Maldonado (Venezuela), Michael Umaña (Costa Rica)
Columbus Crew: Eddie Gaven (USA), Brian Carroll (USA), Robbie Rogers (USA), Shaun Francis (Jamaica)
D.C. United: Andy Najar (Honduras, declined call up)
Houston Dynamo: Lovel Palmer (Jamaica)
Kansas City Wizards: Roger Espinoza (Honduras), Sunil Chhetri (India), Teal Bunbury (USA), Shavar Thomas (Jamaica)
New England Revolution: Kenny Mansally (Gambia; fixture vs. Palestine cancelled)
New York Red Bulls: Roy Miller (Costa Rica), Bouna Coundoul (Senegal), Tim Ream (USA), Juan Agudelo (USA), Dane Richards (Jamaica)
Philadelphia Union: Alejandro Moreno (Venezuela)
Real Salt Lake: Nat Borchers (USA), Robbie Findley (USA), Jean Alexandre (Haiti)
Seattle Sounders: Steve Zakuani (Congo)
Toronto FC: O’Brian White (Jamaica)
