Vancouver Whitecaps FC on the world stage. International 'Caps keeps you updated with the latest on players' experiences with their countries ahead of the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup.
VANCOUVER, BC – International football is back and it's shaping up to be a key window for several countries with 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup qualification on the line.
A total of eight Vancouver Whitecaps FC first team players were called up to their respective countries for this month's window, which is tied for fourth-most in MLS for call-ups across the league.
Read along to catch up on the 'Caps-themed international storylines to watch over the next couple weeks.
Canada men's national team September schedule
- Romania vs. Canada
Friday, September 5 - 11 a.m. PT
Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania - Wales vs. Canada
Tuesday, September 9 - 11:45 a.m. PT
Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea, Wales
Canada return to action this month for a pair of European friendlies as they continue their prep towards next summer. The team will be looking to bounce back following their exit from the Concacaf Gold Cup in June and will hope to so with the help of 'Caps forwards Ali Ahmed and Jayden Nelson.
The attacking pair have been in scinilating form for the Blue and White this season. At the time of writing, Ahmed has recorded a career-high six assists across all competitions, while Nelson sits third on the team in goal contributions with 11 and leads the team in assists with nine.
Both players started two of their three appearances for the CanMNT in the previous window and with only a couple windows left before the World Cup, they'll be looking to solidify their spots in Jesse Marsch's attacking corps this month.
The two friendly matches will air live on OneSoccer, available on the FuboTV Canada platform, as a linear channel on Telus’s Optik TV (Channel 980), as well as online at OneSoccer.ca and through the OneSoccer app.
United States men's national team September schedule
- United States vs. Korea Republic
Saturday, September 6 - 2 p.m. PT
Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, New Jersey - United States vs. Japan
Tuesday, September 9 - 4:30 p.m. PT
Lower.com Field, Columbus, Ohio
The United States will also be looking to bounce back this window following their defeat at the hands of Mexico in the Concacaf Gold Cup final. They'll play two friendlies against Asian opposition, first hosting Korea Republic in New Jersey and then welcoming Japan to Columbus, Ohio.
Sebastian Berhalter returns to Mauricio Pochettino's fold after a strong Gold Cup tournament that saw him start five of their six matches, while Tristan Blackmon earns his second invite to USMNT camp with eyes on earning his first international cap for his country.
The duo have had stellar campaigns for the 'Caps, playing key roles in helping the team reach the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup final as well as cementing the club as a contender in the Western Conference. They've also earned league recognition as MLS All-Stars this season and have firmly placed themselves in the conversations for MLS' year-end awards.
Fellow MLS All-Star and 'Caps leading goalscorer Brian White was also set to be called up by Pochettino but was forced to pull out of the squad to rehab a hamstring strain sustained in the second half of the 'Caps 3-2 win over St. Louis CITY SC on August 23.
Paraguay men's national team September schedule
- Paraguay vs. Ecuador
Thursday, September 4 - 4:30 p.m. PT
Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción, Paraguay - Peru vs. Paraguay
Tuesday, September 9 - 4:30 p.m. PT
Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru
Andrés Cubas is on the brink of helping Paraguay achieve history. The Albirroja, who have put together some impressive results during qualifying against Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia, can seal their spot in a World Cup for the first time in 15 years by earning just a single point in their final two matches of qualifying.
First up is a clash against former Whitecaps FC playmaker Pedro Vite and Ecuador, which will then be followed up with a trip to Peru to take on Kenji Cabrera in Paraguay's final match.
Similar to his prowess with the 'Caps since joining the club in 2022, Cubas has been an instrumental piece in Paraguay's squad, starting 14 of the 16 matches during this qualifying cycle.
Peru men's national team September schedule
- Uruguay vs. Peru
Thursday, September 4 - 4:30 p.m. PT
Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay - Peru vs. Paraguay
Tuesday, September 9 - 4:30 p.m. PT
Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru
As previously mentioned, Kenji Cabrera will be facing off against Cubas this window when Paraguay pay a visit to Peru next Tuesday.
This marks Cabrera's third call-up to his country's senior side and he'll be itching to earn his first international cap, as Peru aim to wrap up their qualifying campaign in style. Mathematically, Peru could still qualify for the playoff spot (seventh place), but they'd have to win both of their final matches against Uruguay and Paraguay.
Cabrera has made three appearances for Whitecaps FC since arriving in Vancouver.
Australia men's U-23 national team September schedule
- Australia vs. Northern Marina Islands
Wednesday, September 3
Xi’an Sports Training Centre, Xi’an, China - Australia vs. Timor-Leste
Saturday, September 6
Xi’an Sports Training Centre, Xi’an, China - China vs, Australia
Tuesday, September 9
Xi’an International Football Centre, Xi’an, China
Australia's U-23s are set to compete in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers this window. Qualifiers for the 7th edition of the tournament, to be held in Saudi Arabia, will feature 44 teams that will then be divided into 11 groups.
Each group within qualifying will be contested in a centralised league format, with teams seeded into pots based on a points system derived from their final rankings across the previous three editions of the finals, which saw Australia's U-23s drawn from Pot 1. The squad will need to finish as one of the 11 Group winners or the four best second-placed teams to advance to the finals.
The team will play three matches during the qualifiers against Northern Marina Islands, Timor-Leste, and hosts China.
This marks the third time Bovalina has been called up to Australia's U-23 side.
Comox, BC native Liam Mackenzie has also been called up to Canada's U-18 for an upcoming preparation camp in Finland from August 30 to September 8.
As part of the camp, the team will face Finland on Friday, September 5 and Switzerland on Sunday, September 7. The camp marks an important step in the lead-up to the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup, with the qualification cycle beginning in 2026 at the U-19 level.
In addition to the eight first team players called up this window, another eight Whitecaps FC 2 (WFC2) and Whitecaps FC BMO Academy players have received call-ups to represent their countries at youth level.
Whitecaps FC 2
- Rayan Elloumi: Canada U-18 UPDATE: Elloumi was released from camp to remain with Whitecaps FC 2
- Johnny Selemani: Canada U-17
Whitecaps FC BMO Academy
- Ben Nash: Canada U-18
- Sahil Deo: Canada U-17
- Antoine Nehme: Canada U-17
- Yuma Tsuji: Canada U-17
- Aziz Aguma: Uganda U-17
- Kunle Tokode: Nigeria U-17
