Chicago Fire FC today announced that defenders Miguel Navarro and Boris Sekulić, and midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri have been called up to their respective National Teams.
Chicago is coming off a 3-1 win against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, March 19, at Soldier Field, with two goals from forward Kacper Przybyłko and a penalty kick goal from Xherdan Shaqiri. Following the FIFA window, the Fire will return to league play on Saturday, April 2 when the team hosts FC Dallas at Soldier Field. Beginning at 2:30 p.m. CT, the match against Dallas will be nationally televised on Univision, TUDN and Twitter (English audio), and transmitted locally in Spanish on TUDN 1200 AM.
Navarro will join Venezuela Men’s National Team for two 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, first traveling to face Argentina at 6:30 p.m. CT on Friday, March 25 at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires. La Vinotinto will then host Colombia at 6:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, March 29, at the Estadio Polideportivo Cachamay in Ciudad Guayana. Venezuela currently has 10 points after 16 matches in Conmebol qualifying.
Sekulić, who has two caps for Slovakia, will join the Slovakia Men’s National Team for two international friendlies. Slovakia will face Norway on Friday, March 25 with kick off set for 12:00 p.m. CT at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, Norway. The team will then face Finland at 11:00 a.m. CT on Tuesday, March 29 at the Estadio Nueva Condomina in Murcia, Spain. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
Shaqiri joins Switzerland for the first time since joining the Fire. Switzerland will face England at 12:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, March 26 at Wembley Stadium in London and then host Kosovo at 11:00 a.m. CT on Tuesday, March 29 at Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+. Switzerland qualified for the 2022 FIFA World Cup on November 15, 2021 when they beat Bulgaria 4-0 to solidify the top spot of Group C.
Earlier in the week, U.S. Soccer announced that goalkeeper Chris Brady and forward Brian Gutiérrez were named to the U.S. Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team roster for a training camp in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from March 21-30. The U-20 MYNT will face Argentina on Saturday, March 26, and Argentina Primera Division club River Plate on Tuesday, March 29. It is the first call up for Brady under head coach Mike Varas, and the third call up for Gutiérrez during the current cycle.
Headlines:
Chicago Fire FC Defeats Sporting Kansas City 3-1 to Remain Unbeaten
Quote Sheet | Hendrickson, Przybyłko and Giménez on 3-1 win against Sporting Kansas City
HIGHLIGHTS: Chicago Fire FC vs. Sporting Kansas City | March 19, 2022 (video)
#CHIvSKC Postmatch Reaction | Ezra Hendrickson (video)
#CHIvSKC Postmatch Reaction | Kacper Przybyłko (video)
#CHIvSKC Postmatch Reaction | Gastón Giménez (video)
No Little Plans: First of Many (video)
Chris Brady and Brian Gutiérrez Calls to U.S. U-20 Men’s Youth National Team
Chicago Fire FC and Chicago Red Stars Announce July 30 Doubleheader at Soldier Field
Intercontinental Football Show | Chicago Fire win in D.C. to remain unbeaten
Chicago Fire FC Team Schedule (March 21-27)
Monday, March 21
Off day
Tuesday, March 22
Off day
Wednesday, March 23
Training at 10:00 a.m. CT at SeatGeek Stadium (Training Field)
Thursday, March 24
Training at 10:00 a.m. CT at SeatGeek Stadium (Training Field)
Friday, March 25
Training at 10:00 a.m. CT at SeatGeek Stadium (Training Field)