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These Nashville SC players are participating in international soccer in June
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- These Nashville SC players are participating in international soccer in June
Six Nashville SC players were called up to their respective international teams for competition in June, starting with the FIFA international window from June 2-10.
Defender Walker Zimmerman (United States), forward Jacob Shaffelburg ( Canada ), midfielder Patrick Yazbek ( Australia ), defender Andy Najar (Honduras), goalkeeper Xavier Valdez (Dominican Republic) and midfielder Matthew Corcoran (United States under-20) will represent their countries while the 2025 MLS season pauses for international play.
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Zimmerman was added to the USMNT roster as a late injury replacement ahead of friendly matches against Turkey (June 7) and Switzerland (June 10). The match against Switzerland will take place at Geodis Park at 7 p.m.
Zimmerman has 44 caps and three goals for the U.S. and has appeared in 10 MLS games for Nashville this season, with two assists. The center back is one of 27 players in training camp with the USMNT ahead of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which begins June 14 in the U.S. and Canada. Teams must submit their rosters for the Gold Cup, which can be between 23 and 26 players, by June 4.
Shaffelburg has six goals in 26 appearances for Canada, which faces Ukraine and Cote D'Ivoire in the inaugural Canadian Shield Tournament. The winger, who has scored one goal in 12 games for Nashville, is also on Canada's 60-man preliminary roster for the Gold Cup.
Yazbek will represent Australia during a pair of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia . The midfielder has made two appearances for the Socceroos. This season, Yazbek has one goal and three assists in 15 games for Nashville.
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Najar, who has five goals in 57 games for Honduras, will play for his country during World Cup qualifying matches against the Cayman Islands and Antigua and Barbuda. The right back has been a revelation in his first season with NSC, with a goal and five assists in 16 games, and has a good chance to make Honduras' Gold Cup roster.
MORE: USMNT vs. Switzerland: Geodis Park to host United States men's national team game on June 10
Valdez and the Dominican Republic have World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala and Dominica during the international window. Valdez hasn't played for Nashville this season as the third-string goalie behind Joe Willis and Brian Schwake .
Corcoran is seeking to earn a spot on the team for the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will be held in Chile from Sept. 27-Oct. 19. The U-20 team is training in Egypt ahead of a pair of friendly matches against Norway and Colombia . Corcoran has two assists in three games for Nashville.
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Nashville (8-4-5, 29 points) is in fourth place in the Eastern Conference at the halfway point of the MLS season. It will face the Chicago Fire at Soldier Field on June 14 after the international window. The season will take a break from June 15-24 due to the Gold Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. Nashville's next match after that break is at the New England Revolution on June 25.
Nashville won't play at home again until it hosts the Philadelphia Union on July 5.
Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com and on Twitter @Jacob_Shames.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Six Nashville SC players set to play international soccer in June
