PORTLAND, Ore. – Midfielders Andy Polo and David Guzmán will represent the Portland Timbers at the 2018 FIFA World Cup this summer, with both players being named to the final 23-man rosters for Peru and Costa Rica, respectively. As each participating nation was required to finalize its 23-man roster by Monday, their inclusion marks the first time that both players have been named to a FIFA World Cup roster.
Finishing fifth place in the CONMEBOL region during FIFA World Cup qualifying with a 7-6-5 record, behind Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Colombia, Peru qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 36 years and for the fourth time in the nation’s history.
Polo, 23, appeared in nine of Peru’s qualifying matches, recording four starts. Since making his senior team debut during a friendly match in 2016, Polo has earned 16 overall caps for Peru during that stretch, scoring one goal. Most recently, Polo appeared in Peru’s friendly match against Scotland on May 29, helping the team secure a 2-0 win at Estadio Nacional de Lima, as Peru continues to prepare for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In his first season with the Timbers, Polo has played in seven of the team’s first 12 matches, logging six starts and 508 minutes played.
Costa Rica qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup after finishing in second place in the Concacaf region, producing a 4-2-4 record during the qualification stage, with Mexico ranking as the only nation to finish above the Ticos in the region. The qualification marks Costa Rica’s second consecutive berth in the World Cup and fourth overall since 1990.
Guzmán, 28, appeared in all 10 of Costa Rica’s matches in the Hex, making four starts in the midfield. Overall, Guzmán has made 44 appearances (22 starts) for Costa Rica since making his international debut at the senior level in 2010. Most recently, the Timbers midfielder started and played 90 minutes in Costa Rica’s 3-0 win over Northern Ireland on June 3. Since joining Portland in 2017, Guzmán has made 28 appearances (26 starts), tallying one goal and six assists.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 14-July 15 in Russia. Peru will compete in Group C alongside France (June 21 in Ekaterinburg), Australia (June 26 in Sochi) and Denmark (June 16 in Saransk). Competing in Group E, Costa Rica will face Brazil (June 22 in St. Petersburg), Switzerland (June 27 in Nizhny Novgorod) and Serbia (June 17 in Samara) during the tournament.
