CARSON, Calif. (Wednesday, August 24, 2011) –LA Galaxy midfielder Chris Birchall was one of 11 foreign based players named to the Trinidad and Tobago National Team roster for their upcoming 2014 World Cup Qualifiers against Barbados and Bermuda. Trinidad and Tobago head coach Otto Pfister will announce the complete roster for the matches later this week.
Birchall will join up with the rest of the Trinidad and Tobago team following the Galaxy’s game in New York against the Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on Sunday, August 28 before returning to the club ahead of the showdown with the defending MLS Cup champion Colorado Rapids on Friday, September 9 at The Home Depot Center. As a result, he will miss the club’s trip to LIVESTRONG Sporting Park on Monday, September 5 to face Sporting Kansas City.
Trinidad and Tobago will open their 2014 World Cup Qualifying campaign on Friday, September 2 when they host Bermuda at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain. They will be back in action again four days later on Tuesday, September 6 when they take on Barbados in Bridgetown. These are the first of six games that the Soca Warriors will play in Group B of the Second Round of CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying with future games against Barbados and Bermuda to be played in October as well as two games against Guyana in November.
Birchall, who last appeared for Trinidad in August 2009 during qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, has 36 caps for his country, scoring four times. A member of Trinidad’s team at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Birchall made his debut for Trinidad and Tobago in May 2005 against Bermuda.
Birchall and the Galaxy are back in action at home on Thursday, August 25 when they take on Costa Rican champion LD Alajuelense at The Home Depot Center in Week 2 of the Group Stage of CONCACAF Champions League. That game kicks off at 7 p.m. For more information about the game or to purchase tickets, please call 877-3GALAXY or visit www.lagalaxy.com/CCL. All fans at Thursday's match will also receive free parking.
