Sporting Kansas City defender Marcel de Jong was named to the Canada Men’s National Team on Friday ahead of an international friendly against the United States on Feb. 5 at StubHub Center in Carson, California. The match between CONCACAF neighbors will kick off at 9:15 p.m. CT with national television coverage on FS1, UniMas and UDN.
De Jong will join Canada’s 23-man squad on Monday for a two-week training camp as the Reds prepare to face the U.S., which features Sporting KC defender Matt Besler in its 26-player roster.
De Jong has earned 41 caps for Canada with three goals since debuting in 2007, including 10 international appearances in 2015. He has represented his country in each of the past four CONCACAF Gold Cups and will continue his third FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign this spring, having previously done so ahead of the 2010 and 2014 tournaments.
Canada’s friendly with the U.S. comes before two World Cup qualifiers against Mexico — in Vancouver on March 25 and away March 29. Canada is currently second in Group A of CONCACAF qualifying’s semifinal round behind Mexico, with the top two teams advancing to the final round beginning in October.
After making more than 225 club appearances over 10 professional seasons in the Netherlands and Germany, de Jong joined Sporting Kansas City in 2015 for his MLS debut. He started 11 of 13 league appearances, recording one goal and one assist, and also played two matches in Sporting Kansas City’s run to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title.
Canada Roster
GOALKEEPERS (3): Maxime Crepeau (Montreal Impact), Tyson Farago (FC Edmonton), Callum Irving (University of Kentucky)
DEFENDERS (9): Samuel Adekugbe (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Marcel de Jong (Sporting KC), Doneil Henry (West Ham United), Nik Ledgerwood (FC Edmonton), Wandrille Lefevre (Montreal Impact), Karl Ouimette (New York Red Bulls), Mallan Roberts (FC Edmonton), Adam Straith (Fredrikstad), Steven Vitoria (unattached)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Kyle Bekker (Montreal Impact), Marco Bustos (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Julian de Guzman (Ottawa Fury FC), Jamar Dixon (FF Jaro), Kianz Froese (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Will Johnson (Toronto FC), Issey Nakajima-Farran (Terengganu FA)
FORWARDS (4): Tesho Akindele (FC Dallas), Caleb Clarke (unattached), Iain Hume (unattached), Cyle Larin (Orlando City SC)
