CHESTER, Pa. (October 4, 2023) – Philadelphia Union announced today that seven players have received international call-ups from their respective federations ahead of the upcoming FIFA international window. Andre Blake, Damion Lowe, Jose Martinez, Daniel Gazdag, Olivier Mbaizo, and Tai Baribo have received callups from their respective countries’ teams for their FIFA international matches. Additionally, homegrowns Jack McGlynn and Nate Harriel will also be joining the United States U23 National Team for the first time in their careers. Midfielder Jesus Bueno was also named to the Venezuelan National Team, but will not travel due to injury.
Blake and Lowe join the Jamaican National Team as they prepare for Round Three of the CONCACAF Nations League. Blake, who captains the squad, has earned 70 caps and registered 25 clean sheets for the Reggae Boyz. Lowe has earned 57 appearances, scoring three goals and registering one assist. The 30-year-old made his debut on October 16, 2016, in a 4-2 win against Guyana in a Caribbean Cup qualification match. Jamaica will play two CONCACAF Nations League matches against Grenada (Oct. 12, 7:00 p.m.) and Haiti (Oct. 15, 8:00 p.m.).
Martinez joins the Venezuelan National Team for a pair of World Cup qualification matches. After starting six of seven Leagues Cup matches where he scored two goals and registered three assists, Bueno earned his first call up for La Vinotinto. Martinez, who has a total of 25 caps for La Vinotinto, registered his first assist for the national team in a 1-1 draw against Ecuador on June 20, 2021. Martinez was most recently called up in September 2023 in a World Cup qualification match against Paraguay where he logged 67 minutes. Venezuela will play two World Cup qualification matches against Brazil (Oct. 12, 8:30 p.m.) and Chile (Oct. 17, 5:00 p.m.).
Gazdag returns to the Hungarian National Team for the seventh round of EURO 2024 qualification matches. Gazdag has earned 20 caps, and most recently joined the squad in June for an international friendly against Lithuania where he played 79 minutes as an attacking midfielder. In his 20 appearances, Gazdag has scored four goals in World Cup qualifying matches against Andorra (Mar. 31, 2021), San Marino (Nov. 12, 2021), Poland (Nov. 15, 2021), and England (Jun. 14, 2022). Hungary will play a UEFA EURO 2024 qualifier match against Serbia (Oct. 14, 2:45 p.m.) and against Lithuania (Oct. 17, 2:45 p.m.).
Mbaizo joins the Cameroon National Team for a pair of international friendly matches. He was most recently called up in September for an Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Burundi where he played 90 minutes at right back. Mbaizo has earned 13 appearances with the national team, making his debut coming off the bench in a friendly against Gabon on September 6, 2016. Cameroon will play international friendlies against Russia (Oct. 12, 12:00 p.m.) and Senegal (Oct. 16, 2:30 p.m.).
Baribo has been called up to the Israeli National Team for the next round of EURO 2024 qualification matches, however all Israeli matches are currently postponed.
