Alex Roldan will represent El Salvador internationally, report says
El Salvador will play in both the Gold Cup and the final round of Concacaf World Cup qualifying.
Alex Roldan has decided to represent El Salvador at the international level, according to various reports. It had previously been reported that Roldan had turned down interest from Guatemala — one of the three countries for which he was eligible — but it was unclear as to why he had done that. Now, it seems more clear.
#FanáticosSelecta | DT Selección Nacional, Hugo Pérez: "Alex Roldán de Seattle Sounders se sumará a la Selección Nacional ".
— Fanáticos (@Fanaticos21) June 17, 2021
⬇ EN VIVOhttps://t.co/veDoJJBZtj pic.twitter.com/Dl0YuH71lx
It was not immediately clear if Roldan would be able to gain El Salvador eligibility in time to play in the Gold Cup next month, but this decision was likely more influenced by their advancement to the final round of Concacaf World Cup qualifying. El Salvador is one of eight teams who will be vying for Concacaf’s three or four World Cup spots. They open the Octagon by hosting the United States on Sept. 2.
El Salvador has been to two previous World Cups, but has not been there since 1970. They’ve looked strong in qualifying during this cycle, however, going 5-0-1 — including four straight wins — so far.
Also likely helping El Salvador’s case is that they’re coached by fellow Salvadoran-American Hugo Perez, who not only played in MLS and won 73 caps for the United States national team, but also appears to have been teammates with Brian Schmetzer when both were with the San Diego Sockers in 1984.
Perez also recently convinced former Sounder Eriq Zavaleta to represent El Salvador.