FC Cincinnati defender Santiago Arias has been called up to the Colombian National Team ahead of the country’s first qualifying matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It is Arias’ first senior team call up since joining the Orange and Blue in February of 2023.
Arias and Colombia are set to face FC Cincinnati teammate Junior Moreno and Venezuela on Thursday, Sept. 7 at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla, Colombia. The country’s second match will come against Chile on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at the Estadio Monumental in Santiago, Chile.
The experienced wingback has made 54 caps for Colombia including his senior team debut against Paraguay in October of 2013. Arias made starts in the 2014 FIFA World Cup as well as four starts for Colombia in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Arias has tallied six assists for Colombia across all international competition.
Arias has scored two goals and provided one assist for FC Cincinnati during the 2023 MLS season, making 21 appearances in 1,121 minutes of play. Arias most recently assisted in Cincinnati’s U.S. Open Cup semifinal match against Inter Miami CF on August 23 and has three goals and three assists across all competitions this year.
FC Cincinnati return home to TQL Stadium this Saturday, September 2 as the Orange and Blue take on Orlando City SC with kick off set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The match can also be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV App and fans can listen locally on ESPN 1530.
