Three Atlanta United players called-up for international duty

Guzan, Almirón and Villalba set to join national teams for upcoming break

ATLANTA – Atlanta United announced today that three players have received international call-ups for the upcoming FIFA window (Oct. 8-16). Brad Guzan will join the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) for upcoming friendlies, while Miguel Almirón and Tito Villalba will join Paraguay for a training camp. All players are available for selection on Saturday against New England.

Guzan, 34, has started 30 matches for Atlanta United this season. He has posted 18 victories in 2018, a new single-season career-high for the veteran keeper. This season, the Illinois native has 76 saves, a 1.17 goals against average and has kept eight clean sheets. Internationally, Guzan has 58 caps for the United States, last appearing on Sept. 5, 2017 on the road against Honduras in a 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying match. The USMNT has two friendlies scheduled for this upcoming international break. They will host Colombia on Oct. 11 in Tampa, Fla. before facing Peru on Oct. 16 in East Hartford, Conn.

Almirón and Villalba were both called up by Paraguay’s new head coach Juan Carlos Osorio for his team’s first selection. Almirón, 24, has been in good form lately for Atlanta with three goals and three assists in his last four matches. He became only the eighth player in MLS history to record back-to-back seasons of 14 or more assists and currently sits tied for third in MLS in assists. Almirón has 13 international caps for Paraguay, last appearing during a friendly against the USMNT on March 28.

He’ll be joined by Villalba, 24, who has earned his first-ever call-up to La Albirroja after completing a one-time switch from Argentina earlier this year. Villalba, whose father was born in Paraguay, is having another strong season for Atlanta United, scoring seven goals and adding eight assists in 2018. Paraguay does not have any friendlies scheduled during this international break.

Atlanta United (19-6-6, 63 points) returns to action Saturday, Oct. 6 when it hosts New England Revolution at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (3:30 p.m., Univision, Sports Radio 92-9 The Game).