Portland Timbers midfielder Will Johnson named to Canada National Team roster for qualifiers

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Timbers midfielder Will Johnson was named to the Canada Men’s National Team roster for a pair of 2018 FIFA World Cup third-round qualifying matches against Belize, it was announced this week.

Canada will play host to Belize at BMO Field in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 4, before traveling to face Belize in the second leg on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at FFB Stadium in Belmopan. The winner of the two-game series will advance to CONCACAF’s fourth round of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, joining Mexico, Honduras and the winner of the two-game, third-round matchup between Curaçao and El Salvador in Group A.

Johnson, 28, has earned 34 caps with the Canada National Team, making his senior international debut at the age of 18 in a 1-0 win over Luxembourg on Nov. 16, 2005. The three-time MLS All-Star selection was named the Canada Soccer Association’s Men’s Player of the Year in 2013 and was called up earlier this year for a pair of matches against Dominica in CONCACAF’s third round of FIFA World Cup qualifying from June 7-17, but did not see action. Canada won the two-game series 6-0 on aggregate to advance.