COLUMBUS — The Columbus Crew announced today that three players have been named to 30-man preliminary rosters ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, including club captain Michael Parkhurst (United States Men's National Team) as well as defenders Giancarlo Gonzalez and Waylon Francis (Costa Rican Men's National Team). Forward Jairo Arrieta has also been named as an alternate for Costa Rica’s provisional roster.
The final 23-player roster for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil – for all qualified countries – must be decided and submitted to FIFA by June 2.
“We are proud of our players as they prepare to represent the Columbus Crew in their respective National Team camps,” said Crew Sporting Director and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter. “The possibility of representing your nation in the FIFA World Cup is our sport’s highest honor, and we’re thrilled for our players that now have this opportunity. We wish them every success ahead of this summer’s tournament.”
For Parkhurst, U.S. Men’s National Team players are set to begin reporting to Palo Alto, California on Wednesday, May 14 for the start of the United States Men’s National Team’s FIFA World Cup preparation camp at Stanford University.
Parkhurst, the Crew’s 2014 club captain, has represented the United States internationally on the senior roster since 2007 and has earned 25 caps. His most recent cap came on April 2 in a friendly against Mexico. His National Team debut came in a CONCACAF Gold Cup match against Trinidad & Tobago on June 9, 2007. Parkhurst was a member of the squad that took home the 2007 and 2013 Gold Cup titles as well as the side that finished runner-up in the 2009 tournament. He also laced-up for the U.S. Olympic Team in the group stage during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
The U.S. Men’s National Team’s Send-Off Series kicks off with USA vs. Azerbaijan, powered by Yingli Solar, at 10:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 27, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. The USA then hosts Turkey at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 1 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, before traveling to Jacksonville, Florida to face Nigeria on June 7 at 6:00 p.m. ET at EverBank Field.
Gonzalez enters camp with 32 total caps for Costa Rica to his name dating back to his debut against Peru in a friendly on October 9, 2010. Across his 32 international appearances, Gonzalez has seen time in 10 friendlies, three CONCACAF Gold Cup matches, four Copa Centroamerica tilts and 14 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. He most recently started in the 2-1 win for Los Ticos over Paraguay on March 5, 2014. Gonzalez also represented his country on two occasions at the Under-20 level.
This is the second call-up for Francis since joining the Crew on November 26, 2013. He was a part of the gameday 18 for the March 5 friendly against Paraguay. Francis earned his first – and only – career cap in group play of the 2013 Copa Centroamericana in the 2-0 win against Nicaragua on January 20, 2013 en route to Costa Rica’s seventh title, which launched the national side to the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
