Sporting Kansas City midfielder Roger Espinoza has been named to the Honduras Men’s National Team for FIFA World Cup qualifiers on March 24 against the United States and on March 28 against Costa Rica.
Espinoza will join Honduras' 26-player squad following Sporting Kansas City’s home match against the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday at Children’s Mercy Park.
Honduras currently occupies fourth place in the Hexagonal, a six-team double round-robin that serves as CONCACAF’s final qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The top three finishers will automatically advance to the World Cup, while the fourth-place team will face an Asian opponent in a two-legged playoff in November.
Espinoza and Honduras will travel to face the United States on Friday, March 24 at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California, with kickoff set for 9:30 p.m. CT on FS1. Los Catrachos will then host first-place Costa Rica on Tuesday, March 28 at Estadio Francisco Morazan in San Pedro Sula, kicking off at 4:05 p.m. CT.
Espinoza has amassed 50 international appearances for Honduras since debuting in 2009, representing his country at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups as well as the 2012 Summer Olympics. He last featured for Los Catrachos in a 3-1 Hexagonal win over Trinidad and Tobago last November.
Born in Puerto Cortes, Honduras and raised in Aurora, Colorado, Espinoza ranks 10th in Sporting KC history with 186 appearances across all competitions, recording four goals and 22 assists in two separate stints with the club. He spent his first five professional seasons in Kansas City, joining the team out of the 2008 MLS SuperDraft and winning the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as an MLS All-Star in 2012.
After hoisting the prestigious FA Cup with Wigan Athletic during a two-year spell in England, Espinoza returned to Sporting KC ahead of the 2015 MLS campaign. He has notched a goal and five assists in each of the last two seasons (all competitions) and led the team with 34 starts in 2016.
Honduras Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Donis Escober (Olimpia; Honduras), Luis Lopez (Real Espana; Honduras), Ricardo Canales (Vida; Honduras)
DEFENDERS (8): Brayan Beckeles (Necaxa; Mexico), Henry Figueroa (Motagua; Honduras), Maynor Figueroa (FC Dallas; MLS), Felix Crisianto (Motagua; Honduras), Allans Vargas (Real Espana; Honduras), Emilio Izaguirre (Celtic; Scotland), Ever Alvarado (Olimpia; Honduras), Cesar Oseguera (Real Espana; Honduras)
MIDFIELDERS (10): Jorge Claros (Real Espana; Honduras), Oliver Morazan (Juticalpa FC; Honduras), Brayan Acosta (Real Espana; Honduras), Roger Espinoza (Sporting KC; MLS), Erick Andino (Motagua; Honduras), Mario Martinez (Enppi; Egypt), Carlos Disuca (Motagua; Honduras), Andy Najar (Anderlecht; Belgium), Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo; MLS), Romell Quioto (Houston Dynamo; MLS)
FORWARDS (5): Alberth Elis (Houston Dynamo; MLS), Anthony Lozano (Tenerife; Spain), Eddie Hernandez (Tolima; Colombia), Rubilio Castillo (Motagua; Honduras), Michael Chirinos (Olimpia; Honduras)
