D.C. United will be without Steve Birnbaum and Álvaro Saborío this weekend following both players' call-ups to their respective national teams for upcoming World Cup Qualifying matches on March 25 and March 29.
Birnbaum will represent the U.S. Men’s National Team as they head into a two-leg, home-and-away tie with Guatemala. The teams will first face each other on Friday, March 25, in Guatemala City (10:00 PM live on BeIn Sports and NBC Universo), before meeting again four days later in Columbus, Ohio (7:00 PM, ESPN2).
At just 25 years of age, the central defender has yet to make an appearance in a World Cup Qualifier, but his composure and strong displays earlier this year with the national team make him a solid option as head coach Jurgen Klinsmann continues to explore defensive possibilities ahead of Russia 2018.
Known for his commanding aerial presence defensively, the California native has shown his capacity to be an offensive threat in the air as well, both at the international level and with United. After a strong showing in this year’s January camp, Birnbaum notched his first international goal and assist in the U.S.’s 3-2 victory over Iceland on Jan. 31, nodding on a Jozy Altidore service into the path of Michael Orozco to even the score before heading home the game-winner himself in the 90th minute. For the Black-and-Red, the defender has two goals to his name in 46 appearances. He came close to adding a third this past weekend against the Colorado Rapids, meeting a Lamar Neagle cross at the back post with a well-timed run, but his side-footed volley flew just over the crossbar.
The U.S. currently lead Group C with four points in the semifinal round of qualifiers, ahead of Trinidad and Tobago on goal difference. There’s a good chance they could secure a place in the hexagonal round with wins against Guatemala. The U.S. are 15-4-6 against Guatemala all-time, and bring a stronger and more experienced squad into these matches, with Clint Dempsey likely to return to the field after missing November’s qualifying matches.
Saborío, meanwhile, will represent Costa Rica in their bid to qualify for their second straight World Cup. In 2014, los Ticos famously made a deep run in the tournament, ultimately falling to the Netherlands on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals. Though Saborío missed the 2014 World Cup due to injury, the long-time MLS veteran represented his country in Germany 2006, and boasts an impressive scoring record with the national team: over 30 goals in over 100 caps.
A proven goalscorer at the domestic level as well--he remains Real Salt Lake’s all-time leading scorer with 63 goals--the six-foot striker offers a consistent and dangerous presence in front of goal, and his inclusion in the squad will be crucial for the Ticos as they look to take maximum points from these next two games. Costa Rica currently sit atop Group B with 6 points, and will aim to secure their passage to the final six in this week’s tie with third-place Jamaica. The Ticos will travel to Jamaica Friday, March 25 for an 8:00 PM ET kickoff, before facing the same opponents at the Estadio Nacional in San José the following Tuesday at 10:00 PM ET.
