FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – New England Revolution midfielders Tajon Buchanan (Canada) and Arnór Traustason (Iceland) have been called into their respective national teams for FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches in November.
Buchanan will join Canada for its upcoming fixtures against Costa Rica on Friday, November 12 (9:05 p.m. ET – Paramount+) and against Mexico on Tuesday, November 16 (9:05 p.m. ET – Paramount+) both at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta.
Traustason will join Iceland for two upcoming World Cup Qualifiers, both on the road. Iceland will face Romania on Thursday, Nov. 11 (2:45 p.m. ET – ESPN+) and North Macedonia on Sunday, Nov. 14 (12:00 p.m. ET – ESPN+).
Buchanan, 22, has earned all 14 of his career caps in 2021 as he receives his fifth selection to the Canada’s senior squad this year. The Brampton, Ontario native previously featured in four World Cup Qualifying in June and added five more appearances in Concacaf’s final round of qualifying in September and October. Buchanan also featured in all five of Canada’s matches at the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup, where he was named the tournament’s Best Young Player and a Best XI selection. For his international career, Buchanan owns three goals and four assists. Canada currently sits in third place in the eight-team qualifying tournament with a 2-0-4 record (10 points) through six games.
Buchanan, who will join Belgian champions Club Brugge KV after the 2021 MLS season, is enjoying a career year with eight goals and five assists, both personal bests, through 26 games played. His eight tallies rank third most on the team. The third-year pro owns 59 MLS appearances has totaled 10 goals and nine assists in his career, including one additional tally in the playoffs.
Traustason, 28, earns his first call-up to the Iceland National Team since May 2021. The owner of 40 caps and five international goals with Iceland, Traustason previously featured in three UEFA World Cup Qualifying matches in March. Traustason brings previous FIFA World Cup (2018) and UEFA European Championship experience to the Iceland squad, which currently sits in fifth place in Group J with eight points through eight games played.
In his first season with the Revolution, Traustason has appeared in 28 games, making 19 starts, and has recorded two goals with seven assists. Traustason’s seven helpers are third most on the team behind Carles Gil (18) and Gustavo Bou (9). Traustason, a two-time Swedish league champion, has won 95.2 percent of his duels in the midfield during his debut season with New England.
The New England Revolution will conclude the 2021 MLS regular season on Sunday, Nov. 7 against Inter Miami CF. The MLS Decision Day match kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium and airs locally on WSBK-TV38, myRITV, CoziTV, 98.5 The Sports Hub HD2, and 1260 AM Nossa Radio. Following the match, the Revolution will lift the Supporters’ Shield for the first time in club history in an on-field ceremony at Gillette Stadium to cap off their record-setting regular season. New England will then return to action in the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs beginning in the Eastern Conference Semifinal round (date to be announced).
