NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Nov. 11, 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 16 caps in this calendar year alone.
In Johnston’s 16 appearances for the Canadian National Team, the team owns a record of 10W-2L-4D. 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 October, Johnston appeared in all three 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches, including a 4-1 win against the Panamanian National Team at BMO Field in Toronto.
In this phase of 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying, Johnston and the Canadian National Team will take on Costa Rica and Mexico.
Godoy and the Panamanian National Team will take on Honduras and El Salvador in this set of 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches.
Godoy earned his 105th international cap in June as Panama faced Mexico in an international friendly at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. In his last 12 appearances with Panama, they have amassed a 5W-3L-4D record. Overall, Godoy has earned 111 caps.
Leal has been a sparkplug for the Costa Rican National Team and has earned 25 caps since making his debut on Sept. 7, 2018. Most recently, Leal appeared as a substitute in Costa Rica’s World Cup Qualifying matches against El Salvador and the United States in October.
Leal and Costa Rica will take on Canada and Honduras in this phase of qualifying matches. At the club level this season, Leal registered his eighth goal of the season with a brace against FC Cincinnati on October 27 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.
