Three FC Cincinnati players have been called up to their national teams ahead of their countries’ next qualifying matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be held during the October international break. Defenders Santiago Arias and Yerson Mosquera have been called up to the Colombian National Team, and midfielder Junior Moreno has been called up to the Venezuelan National Team.
Moreno and La Vinotinto will play Brazil on Thursday, Oct. 12 at Arena Pantanal in Cuiabá, Brazil, with kickoff set for 8:30 p.m. ET. That is followed by a clash with Chile on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at Estadio Monumental de MaturÃn in MaturÃn, Venezuela at 5 p.m. ET.
Colombia are set to host Uruguay on Thursday, Oct. 12 at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla, Colombia. Arias and Mosquera will travel to Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado and play Ecuador on Tuesday, Oct. 17. Kickoff for both matches are set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Moreno has been a consistent presence in the Venezuelan National Team, having been called up in June for two friendlies against Honduras and Guatemala and again for the first two games of World Cup qualifiers in September. Moreno has made 37 caps for Venezuela, including his debut on June 3, 2017 against the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Arias made his return to the Colombian National Team in September’s international window for the nation’s first two World Cup qualifiers. The talented wingback has made 54 caps for Colombia, including his senior team debut against Paraguay in October of 2013. Arias made three appearances in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil as well as four starts in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Arias has tallied six assists for Colombia across all international competition.
Mosquera earns his third senior call-up for La Tricolor, and his second since joining FCC on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers. He could make his first senior international cap should he appear in either match. Mosquera made two caps with the nation’s U-20 side in December 2020 and scored one goal in the two friendlies he appeared in against Ecuador's U-20 squad.
For FC Cincinnati this season, Moreno has 35 appearances, 29 starts, playing over 2,500 minutes. He notched four goals to go along with two assists. He has won 58.3% of his duels this season, the best rate among FC Cincinnati midfielders.
Arias has scored three goals and added two assists for FCC in 30 matches across all competitions in 2023. Mosquera has also played 30 matches for the Orange and Blue, having tallied two goals and an assist in the attack and logging the second-most tackles and winning the third-most duels on the team.
FC Cincinnati pause competition for the upcoming FIFA international break and return to TQL Stadium for Fan Appreciation on October 21 to take on Atlanta United FC. Decision Day kickoff is set for 6 p.m., and tickets are still available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling (513) 977-5425 (KICK).
