Five Sounders FC Players Called into International Duty for October FIFA Window

October 8, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release

RENTON, WASH. – Sounders FC defenders Jonathan Bell, Stuart Hawkins and Nouhou, as well as midfielders Reed Baker-Whiting and Obed Vargas have all been called-up to represent their national teams during the October FIFA window. Bell, Nouhou and Vargas are set to join Jamaica, Cameroon and Mexico, respectively, while Hawkins and Baker-Whiting get the nod for the U.S. Men’s Youth National Team at the U-19 and U-20 levels.

Nouhou, 26, has 33 career caps for Cameroon since 2018, playing every minute in all three of Cameroon’s 2022 FIFA World CupTM matches, including the country’s historic 1-0 win over Brazil. The Douala native most recently started a pair of matches in the FIFA September window for Les Lions Indomptables during its Africa Cup of Nations 2024 qualifying run, playing 90 total minutes. Cameroon continues its qualifying campaign during the October window, playing Kenya twice. The first match takes place on Friday, October 11 in Cameroon (9:00 a.m. PT) before the two sides square off on Monday, October 14 in Kenya (6:00 a.m. PT). Cameroon currently sits in second place in Group J with four points (1-0-1). Nouhou has 26 regular-season appearances for Seattle this season (25 starts).

Vargas, 19, gets the nod to the senior Mexican National Team for the first time since utilizing his one-time federation change to Mexico from the United States. He was previously called into Mexico’s U-23 squad during the September window for a training camp and pair of friendlies. The midfielder made nine appearances for the U.S. before the change, including five appearances (three starts) at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina. El Tri is holding a camp in Mexico before playing a friendly against the United States on Tuesday, October 15 in Zapopan, Mexico (6:30 p.m. PT / TNT, MAX). Vargas has appeared in 29 regular-season matches (27 starts) for the Rave Green in 2024, scoring one goal and adding seven assists.

Bell, 27, earns a spot with Jamaica as it continues its 2024-2025 Concacaf Nations League campaign. Bell previously joined Jamaica for Nations League play during the September window and also appeared in one 2024 Copa America match this year, playing all 90 minutes against Venezuela (July 1). He earned his first cap with the Reggae Boyz in a friendly against Guatemala (November 12, 2023). Jamaica plays Nicaragua on Thursday, October 10 (7:00 p.m. PT) before facing Honduras on…