MLS Heads to AFCON, AFC, Caribbean Cup
By Sean Maslin
Another international break, another opportunity for MLS players to make inroads abroad. For as much as the league looks inward towards improving the perception the league, international victories play a significant role in changing how this league is seen.
A couple of really important things to look out for during this international window:
Both goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi (Algeria) and defender Ambroise Oyongo (Cameroon) both can help their teams qualify for the African Cup of Nations. Although AFCON is not seen as big of a tournament as say the Euros or Copa America, it is still an extremely important tournament in international football. AFCON 2015 has hit a bit of a speed bump recently with the ebola epidemic, but should it continue as planned, both Mbolhi and Oyongo should play significant roles for their teams.
It appears that Columbus Crew midfielder Justin Mearam has made his decision on what country he will represent. And that country is Iraq. Mearam, whose parents come from Iraq, played in all 19 games for the Crew this season and scored a career-high 8 goals. He will be joining a very young Iraqi side that will be preparing for the AFC Asian Cup in January.
In terms of CONCACAF, keep an eye on the Caribbean Cup that will be going during this international break. The eight team tournament will determine what four sides qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup next year. The winner of the Caribbean Cup will also earn a spot in the 2016 Copa America Centenario.
Anyone who wants to see what Orlando City can do next year should keep an eye on Trinidad and Tobago forward Kevin Molino. Molino scored four goals during qualification. He also set the USL Pro single-season goal scoring record this season with 20 tallies.
Here is the full list with game dates and times:
Algeria
AFCON qualifiers vs. Ethiopia (11/15 225 PM beINSPORT) and Mali 11/19
Rais Mbolhi (Philadelphia Union)
Australia –
Japan 11/18
Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls)
Cameroon
Congo DR 11/15 and Ivory Coast 11/19
Ambroise Oyongo (New York Red Bulls)
Canada – vs. Panama 11/18
Nana Attakora (D.C. United)
Kyle Bekker (Toronto FC)
Patrice Bernier (Montreal Impact)
Dwayne De Rosario (Toronto FC)
Doneil Henry (Toronto FC)
Ashtone Morgan (Toronto FC)
Issey Nakajima-Farran (Montreal Impact)
Jonathan Osorio (Toronto FC)
Karl Ouimette (Montreal Impact)
Maxim Tissot (Montreal Impact)
Bryce Alderson (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Russell Teibert (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Canada U-20
England 11/12, Russia 11/15, and USA 11/18
Sam Adekugbe (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Manny Aparicio (Toronto FC)
Louis Béland-Goyette (Montreal Impact)
Marco Bustos (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Marco Carducci (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Kianz Froese (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé (Montreal Impact)
Jordan Hamilton (Toronto FC)
Costa Rica
Uruguay 11/13
Waylon Francis (Columbus Crew)
Roy Miller (New York Red Bulls)
Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake)
El Salvador
Panama 11/14 and Nicaragua 11/18
Darwin Cerén (Orlando City)
Honduras
Japan 11/14 and China 11/18
Victor Bernardez (San Jose Earthquakes)
Marvin Chavez (Chivas USA)
Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo)
Luis Garrido (Houston Dynamo)
Iraq
Gulf Cup of Nations vs. Kuwait 11/14, Oman 11/17, and UAE 11/20J
Justin Meram (Columbus Crew)
Jamaica
Caribbean Cup vs. Martinique 11/12, Antigua & Barbuda 11/14, Haiti 11/16
Andre Blake (Philadelphia Union)
Deshorn Brown (Colorado Rapids)
Darren Mattocks (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Alvas Powell (Portland Timbers)
Michael Seaton (D.C. United)
Jermaine Taylor (Houston Dynamo)
Lebanon
Soony Saad- 3-2 Loss to UAE on November 6th
Martinique
Caribbean Cup vs. Jamaica 11/12, Haiti 11/14, and Antigua & Barbuda 11/16
Kevin Parsemain (Seattle Sounders)
Mexico U-21
Central American and Caribbean Games, 11/17-28
Carlos Salcedo (Real Salt Lake)
Erick Torres (Chivas USA)
New Zealand
China 11/14 and Thailand 11/18
Jake Gleeson (Portland Timbers)
Panama
El Salvador 11/14 and Canada 11/18
Gabriel Torres (Colorado Rapids)
Peru
Paraguay 11/14 6pm BeINSPORT and 11/17
Raul Fernandez (FC Dallas)
Portugal U-20
Caribbean Cup vs. Curacao on 11/11, French Guiana 11/13, and Cuba 11/15
Estrela (Orlando City SC)
Rafael Ramos (Orlando City SC)
Republic of Ireland
November 14th vs Scotland
Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)
Trinidad & Tobago
Caribbean Cup vs. Curacao on 11/11, French Guiana 11/13, Cuba 11/15
Cordell Cato (San Jose Earthquakes)
Kevan George (Columbus Crew)
Carlyle Mitchell (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Kevin Molino (Orlando City)