FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – New England Revolution midfielder Dylan Borrero (Colombia) and defender Christian Makoun (Venezuela) have been called into their respective national teams. Borrero and Colombia will face South Korea in a friendly match on Friday, March 24 (7:00 a.m. ET – Ulsan, South Korea) before taking on Japan in the 2023 Kirin Challenge Cup on Tuesday, March 28 (6:20 a.m. ET – Osaka Japan). Makoun will join Venezuela ahead of two friendly matches, beginning Friday, March 24 against Saudi Arabia (3:00 p.m. ET – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) followed by a match against Uzbekistan on Tuesday, March 28 (2:00 p.m. ET – Buraidah, Saudi Arabia).
This marks Borrero’s second senior team call-up for Colombia after making his international debut for Los Cafeteros in a January friendly against the United States. Borrero, 21, started and played 68 minutes in a central midfield role in his debut, recording a pair of shots with one on target. The midfielder, who previously made seven combined international appearances for Colombia at the U-17, U-18, and U-20 levels, is currently in his second MLS season after signing with New England in April 2022. Borrero has recorded team highs in shots (10), shots on target (5), and fouls won (7) this season, including his first goal-and-assist performance for the club on March 4 against Houston Dynamo FC. Since his MLS debut on May 21, 2022, Borrero ranks top-10 among MLS midfielders in shots on goal per 90 minutes (10th – 1.09), combined goals and assists per 90 minutes (10th – 0.70), and minutes per goal (8th – 226.5).
Makoun, 23, has earned six senior caps for La Vinotinto, most recently starting at left back in a pair of November friendlies against Panama and Syria, with both matches played in the United Arab Emirates. Makoun registered his first international assist in Venezuela’s 2-1 victory over Syria. The defender has also featured for Venezuela 23 times at the youth international level, including 14 appearances for the Under-20 side, serving as captain nine times. New England acquired Makoun in a trade with Charlotte FC in August 2022, with the defender appearing in nine games for the club since arriving in Foxborough.
New England returns to action on Saturday, March 25 at D.C. United (7:30 p.m. ET). The match is available to watch for free on Apple TV in English and Spanish. Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies will have the radio call on 98.5 The Sports Hub (WBZ-FM), while 1260 AM Nossa Radio will call the action in Portuguese.
