Colombia, Peru Announce Strong Squads for October Matches vs. USA

Just as the U.S. Men’s National Team set its roster for its October Kickoff Series matches, their opponents have also announced strong squads for the set of games.

• Q&A: Sarachan Discusses MNT Roster for Colombia and Peru Matches

First up for the USA is a clash with Colombia on Oct. 11 in Tampa, with interim manager Arturo Reyes electing to summon a powerful team featuring 12 players that took part in last summer’s FIFA World Cup.

Highlighting the roster are midfielders James Rodríguez (Bayern Munich) and Juan Cuadrado (Juventus), forwards Radamel Falcao (Monaco) and Carlos Bacca (Villarreal), as well as Atlético Madrid defender Santiago Arias and Napoli goalkeeper David Ospina.  

Five days later, the USA sets its sights on welcoming Peru to East Hartford, Conn. Playing in their first World Cup since 1982, La Blanquirroja captured hearts with their enthusiastic play and incredible fan support this summer in Russia. Manager Ricardo Gareca has largely stuck with the team he took to the World Cup, calling up 16 players from the squad for Peru’s matches against Chile and the USA this month. 

Along attacking midfielder Christian Cueva, the Peru roster is notable for having four players based in Major League Soccer, with forwards Raúl Ruidíaz (Seattle Sounders FC) and Yordy Reyna (Vancouver Whitecaps FC) joining midfielders Andy Polo (Portland Timbers) and Yoshimar Yotún (Orlando City SC) on the squad.  

Find both teams rosters below, with World Cup participants listed in bold:

COLOMBIA
GOALKEEPERS (2): Álvaro Montero (Tolima), David Ospina (Napoli/ITA)

DEFENDERS (8): Felipe Aguilar (Atlético Nacional), Santiago Arias (Atlético Madrid/ESP), Cristian Borja (Toluca/MEX), Deiver Machado (Atlético Nacional) Jeison Murillo (Valencia/ESP), Óscar Murillo (Pachuca/MEX), Helibelton Palacios (Atlético Nacional), Davinson Sánchez (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG),

MIDFIELDERS (9): Wílmar Barrios (Boca Juniors/ARG), Edwin Cardona (Boca Juniors/ARG), Juan Cuadrado (Juventus/ITA), Didier Moreno (Deportivo La Coruña/ESP), Juan Fernando Quintero (River Plate/ARG), Juan Daniel Roa (Indendiente Santa Fe), James Rodríguez (Bayern Munich/GER), Mateus Uribe (Club América/MEX), Sebastián Villa (Boca Juniors/ARG),

FORWARDS (5): Carlos Bacca (Villarreal/ESP), Miguel Borja (Palmeiras/BRA), Yimmi Chará (Atlético Mineiro/BRA), Radamel Falcao (Monaco/FRA), Cucho Hernández (Huesca/ESP)

PERU
GOALKEEPERS (3): Patricio Álvarez (Sporting Cristal), José Carvallo (Universidad Técnica de Cajamarca), Pedro Gallese (Veracruz/MEX)

DEFENDERS (8):  Luis Abram (Vélez Sarsfield/ARG), Luis Advíncula (Rayo Vallecano/ESP), Miguel Araujo (Talleres/ARG), Nilson Loyola (Melgar), Johan Madrid (Sporting Cristal), Christian Ramos (Al-Nassr/KSA), Anderson Santamaría (Puebla/MEX), Miguel Trauco (Flamengo/BRA)

MIDFIELDERS (10): Pedro Aquino (Club León/MEX), Cristian Benevente (Royal Charleroi/BEL), Horacio Calcaterra (Sporting Cristal), André Carillo (Al-Hilal/KSA), Christian Cueva (Krasnodar/RUS), Edison Flores (Morelia/MEX), Paolo Hurtado (Konyaspor/TUR), Andy Polo (Portland Timbers/USA), Renato Tapia (Feyenoord/NED), Yoshimar Yotún (Orlando City SC/USA)

FORWARDS (3): Jefferson Farfán (Lokomotiv Moscow/RUS), Yordy Reyna (Vancouver Whitecaps FC/CAN), Raúl Ruidíaz (Seattle Sounders FC/USA)