Inter Miami CF and Fort Lauderdale CF players were on display for their national teams over the international break, with Joevin Jones, Kelvin Leerdam and Rodolfo Pizarro joining Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname and Mexico, respectively. For Fort Lauderdale, the Club’s USL League One side, Modesto Mendez and Dairon Reyes were part of Cuba’s squad to face the team’s FIFA World Cup Qualifying matchups.
Inter Miami defender Leerdam played the full 90 minutes as Suriname hosted Bermuda at Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion in Paramaribo on Friday, June 4, with the team overcoming the visitors with a resounding 6-0 victory in the FIFA World Cup qualifying match. Next, Suriname travelled to Toyota Park in Chicago, Ill., to face Canada on June 8, falling 4-0 with Leerdam starting the match and playing 63 minutes. WIth the loss, Suriname was left without any options of qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
For his part, Jones featured for the Soca Warriors in the team’s away fixture against the Bahamas at Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas on Saturday, June 5. Jones played the full 90 minutes as Trinidad & Tobago recorded a scoreless draw. Subsequently, Jones made an appearance as a second half substitute as the team defeated Saint Kitts and Nevis 2-0 at the Estadio Alterno del Centro Olímpico Juan Pablo Duarte in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on June 8. Unfortunately for Jones, the results mean his national team has failed to qualify for the upcoming World Cup.
Pizarro was called-up to the Mexican National Team camp in Denver, Colo., but was unable to compete as he was recovering from a muscle strain. Mexico defeated Costa Rica in the semifinals in a penalty shootout after a scoreless draw on Thursday, June 3 before falling 2-3 against the United States in the final of the Concacaf Nations League on Sunday, June 6.
Meanwhile, Fort Lauderdale CF players Mendez and Reyes were present as Cuba faced the British Virgin Islands at the Estadio Mateo Flores in Guatemala City, Guatemala in a World Cup qualifier. Reyes played a starring role in the match, coming on as a 67th minute substitute to make his senior international debut, registering a goal and two assists in the 5-0 win. Mendez remained on the bench as he was nursing a small injury. Cuba then closed out its participation in the World Cup qualifiers on June 8, as the team can no longer advance to the tournament, with an 0-1 away win over Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium in St. George 's, Grenada. Mendez made his debut for Cuba’s senior team by starting and playing the full 90 minutes, while Reyes once again impacted the match as a second-half substitute, coming onto the field in the 61st minute and assisting the game’s only goal moments later in the 64th minute.
