COLUMBUS — Columbus Crew SC today announced that midfielder Justin Meram has received an international call-up from the Iraq National Team. Meram is set to join the Lions of Mesopotamia ahead of their international friendly against Kenya this week on Thursday, October 5. The match against Kenya is set to take place in Basra, Iraq.
The friendly match will be Iraq’s first since finishing in fifth place in Group B of AFC Third Round qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, playing against Japan, Saudi Arabia, Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Thailand. Iraq finished the round with a record of 3-2-5.
Meram has earned 24 caps for Iraq since making his debut with the team in a start against Kuwait on November 14, 2014. Meram’s most recent match for Iraq came in a 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying match against the United Arab Emirates on September 5 of this year. Meram has featured for the Lions of Mesopotamia in 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches as well as in the 2014 Gulf Cup of Nations and the 2015 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup. This season in Columbus, Meram has made 32 regular-season appearances (30 starts), registering 13 goals and seven assists for Crew SC.
Crew SC’s 2017 roster features 11 players that have received a senior National Team call-up throughout their careers (Mohammed Abu, Harrison Afful, Waylon Francis, Ola Kamara, Cristian Martinez, Jonathan Mensah, Justin Meram, Jukka Raitala, Rodrigo Saravia, Zack Steffen, Wil Trapp).
After clinching a postseason qualification on Saturday with two regular-season contests remaining, Crew SC is assured of finishing no lower than sixth place in the Eastern Conference by virtue of its win against D.C. United at MAPFRE Stadium on September 30. The win against D.C. United was the Black & Gold’s 12th regular-season home victory of 2017, setting a new club record for most regular-season wins at home.
Final postseason seeding will be determined in the coming weeks as the Black & Gold (15-12-5, 50 points) conclude the regular season along with all other MLS clubs.
