Preview: Three Sporting players and two Academy products set for international duty this week

The final FIFA window of 2019 will see three Sporting Kansas City players and two Sporting KC Academy products represent their countries in international competition beginning this week.

Defenders Botond Barath and Nico Hasler have traveled to Europe for the conclusion of UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying, while Homegrown forward Tyler Freeman and Academy standouts Jake Davis and Tucker Lepley have joined the United States U-16 and U-17 national teams for the Nike International Friendlies in Bradenton, Florida.

As the month of November nears its halfway point, we preview all of the upcoming international fixtures in the space below.

Sporting KC: November International Schedule

Hungary opens Puskas Arena before pivotal Wales trip

Barath and the Magyars will first host South American power Uruguay in a friendly on Friday at the brand-new, 67,889-seat Puskas Arena in Budapest. This will serve as the inaugural match at the world-class stadium, which will be one of 12 host venues for Euro 2020 next summer and figures to become Hungary’s new home for years to come.

Hungary will then look ahead to its monumental Euro qualifying finale at Wales next Tuesday. The Magyars currently occupy second place in Group E of Euro qualifying, two points behind leaders Croatia and two points head of third-place Slovakia, but the Slovaks have played one match less. That game in hand will take place Saturday as Slovakia visits Croatia.

The top two finishers in Group E will advance to the heralded UEFA European Championship next summer. Should Croatia win or draw versus Slovakia on Saturday, Hungary will have a win-and-in scenario against Wales next week. The Magyars recently competed at Euro 2016 in France, marking their first appearance at the tournament since 1972.

Hasler and Liechtenstein playing for pride

Hasler and Liechtenstein are all set for their final two matches in Group J of Euro 2020 qualifying. Friday's road match against Finland will be followed by a home finale versus Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday at Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz.

Liechtenstein are already eliminated from Euro 2020 qualification as the last-place team in Group J, but head coach Helgi Kolvidsson’s side has earned results in two of its last three matches. Hasler notched the game-tying assist in a spirited 1-1 stalemate at Greece on Sept. 8 and went the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 home draw versus Armenia on Oct. 12. Usually deployed as an attacking midfielder for his national team, the Sporting defender has started all eight Euro qualifiers for Liechtenstein this year.

Academy products to rep USA at Nike International Friendlies

Academy products Freeman, Davis and Lepley are set to compete at the 19th annual Nike International Friendlies at the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. The prestigious four-team tournament will feature the Netherlands, Turkey, and two U.S. squads. Freeman has joined the U-16 Boys’ National Team, while Davis and Lepley have both joined the U-17 Men’s National Team for the first time. Swope Park Rangers assistant coach Chris Martinez will also serve as an assistant on the U.S. U-17 coaching staff throughout the tournament.

All matches at the 2019 Nike International Friendlies will stream live on ussoccer.com and U.S. Soccer social media accounts at YouTube, Facebook and Twitter (@USYNT).

Freeman, a 16-year-old forward who signed for Sporting as a Homegrown Player in October 2018, previously represented the U.S. at the 2019 Concacaf U-17 Championship in May, where the Americans finished as runners-up to Mexico. One of five MLS Homegrown Players on the U-16 squad, Freeman started 12 of 17 USL Championship appearances for the Swope Park Rangers during his first professional season in 2019.

Davis and Lepley joined the Sporting KC Academy after moving to Kansas City from Michigan and North Carolina, respectively. Both played with Sporting's first team at preseason training in January before earning Academy contracts with the Swope Park Rangers and featuring throughout the 2019 USL Championship campaign.