NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Oct. 2, 2021) – Nashville Soccer Club announced today that midfielders Aníbal Godoy (Panama) and Randall Leal (Costa Rica) along with defender Alistair Johnston (Canada) will represent their respective countries in this next phase of 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying.
Johnston has been a mainstay for Canada Soccer Men’s National Team since bursting on the scene after a sensational MLS rookie campaign in 2020. The 22-year-old defender earned his first international call-up in January 2021 and has now accumulated 13 caps in this calendar year alone.
In Johnston’s 13 appearances for the Canadian National Team, the team owns a record of 9W-2L-2D with a goal differential of + 31 and six clean sheets. The two losses were suffered by just one goal apiece.
Johnston played every minute for Canada in the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup, leading the squad to the Semi-final round against Mexico. In his recent call-up in September, Johnston appeared in all three 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches, including a 1-1 draw against the United States Men’s National Team at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
Johnston and the Canadian National Team in this phase of 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying will take on Mexico, Jamaica, and fellow Nashville SC teammate Aníbal Godoy and the Panamanian side.
Godoy and the Panamanian National Team will take on El Salvador on Oct. 7, before hosting Nashville SC teammate Walker Zimmerman and the United States on Oct. 10 at Rommel Fernández in Panama City. Panama concludes this series of matches on Oct. 13 against Nashville teammate Alistair Johnston and team Canada.
Godoy earned his 105th international cap in June as Panama faced Mexico in an international friendly at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. In his last nine appearances with Panama, they have amassed a 5W-1L-3D record. Overall, Godoy has earned 108 caps.
Leal has been a sparkplug for the Costa Rican National Team and has earned 20 caps since making his debut on Sept. 7, 2018. Most recently, Leal appeared in the Concacaf Nations League Finals, where he squared off against Mexico and Honduras in June before facing his Nashville SC teammate Walker Zimmerman and the USMNT in an international friendly.
Leal and Costa Rica will take on Honduras, El Salvador and the United States Men’s National Team in this phase of qualifying matches. At the club level this season, Leal registered his sixth goal of the season against Orlando City SC earlier this week and, now ranks third among Nashville SC players in goals scored. Leal leads all Nashville SC players in goals scored beyond the 18 in the 2021 campaign.
Visit www.NashvilleSC.com and follow the club’s social channels on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to keep up with Nashville SC players on international duty.
