Sporting Kansas City midfielder Roger Espinoza is on the brink of his 50th cap for the Honduras Men’s National Team ahead of Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Panama at Estadio Olimpico in San Pedro Sula. Kickoff is slated for 2:35 p.m. CT as Los Catrachos continue their quest for a third straight World Cup appearance in CONCACAF’s final round of qualifying.
Espinoza last featured for Honduras in March, helping Jorge Luis Pinto’s men collect four points in two starts versus El Salvador. These results proved pivotal in Los Catrachos’ progression to the Hexagonal, where they will battle five other CONCACAF nations in a home-and-away, double-round-robin format between November 2016 and October 2017.
Honduras is the only team in the Hexagonal to host its first two games of the competition. After facing Los Canaleros on Friday, Espinoza and his teammates will remain in San Pedro Sula to meet Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday. Honduras will be eager to take maximum points from its favorable early schedule, as No. 63 Panama and No. 65 Trinidad and Tobago sit well below CONCACAF giants Mexico (17), Costa Rica (18) and the United States (24) in the latest FIFA rankings.
Pinto’s side is the lowest-ranked team in the Hex at No. 86 — a spot impacted by Honduras’ inability to reach the knockout rounds of the 2015 Gold Cup or qualify for the 2016 Copa America. Yet Los Catrachos are on an uptick, having defeated Canada 2-1 on Sept. 2 before holding Mexico to a scoreless draw at Estadio Azteca four days later to advance from the semifinal qualifying round.
Espinoza joins a 26-player Honduras roster that includes two other MLS players, captain and defender Maynor Figueroa of FC Dallas and midfielder Boniek Garcia of the Houston Dynamo. Panama, meanwhile, has called upon four MLS players in its 25-man squad: Seattle defender Roman Torres, San Jose midfielders Alberto Quintero and Anibal Godoy and NYCFC forward Tony Taylor.
Honduras has dominated Panama historically, going 24-10-10 all-time in the fixture, but Los Canaleros are unbeaten in the last six meetings (2-0-4) since 2012.
Espinoza has appeared 49 times for Honduras since 2009, scoring four goals. The 30-year-old midfielder represented his country at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups as well as the 2012 Summer Olympics, where his colossal performances helped guide Los Catrachos to the knockout rounds. He has amassed five World Cup appearances and competed in three separate Gold Cups (2009, 2011, 2015).
Born in Puerto Cortes, Honduras and raised in Aurora, Colorado, Espinoza began his professional career with Kansas City as the 11th overall pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. He ranks 10th in Sporting KC history with 184 appearances across all competitions, recording four goals and 22 assists in two separate stints with the club.
Honduras MNT Hexagonal Schedule
<strong>DATE</strong> |
<strong>OPPONENT</strong> |
<strong>Nov. 11, 2016</strong> |
<strong>vs. Panama</strong> |
<strong>Nov. 15, 2016</strong> |
<strong>vs. Trinidad and Tobago</strong> |
March 24, 2017 |
at United States |
<strong>March 28, 2017</strong> |
<strong>vs. Costa Rica</strong> |
June 7 or 8, 2017 |
at Mexico |
June 11 or 12, 2017 |
at Panama |
Sept. 1, 2017 |
at Trinidad and Tobago |
<strong>Sept. 5, 2017</strong> |
<strong>vs. United States</strong> |
Oct. 6, 2017 |
at Costa Rica |
<strong>Oct. 10, 2017</strong> |
<strong>vs. Mexico</strong> |
