Houston Dynamo FCdefender Zarek Valentin was named to the Puerto Rico National Team for a pair of qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The Puerto Rican Football Federation announced the rosters on Monday afternoon.
Puerto Rico will host the Bahamas on Wednesday, June 2 at Estadio Centroamericano, Mayaguez. Valentin will join Puerto Rico to face Guayana on June 8 at a neutral site to be named in the near future.
Valentin returns to international play for the first time since 2012 when he represented the United States U-23 Men’s National Team at the Concacaf Olympic Qualifying tournament. Valentin is eligible to represent Puerto Rico because his paternal grandmotherwas born in the Caribbean islandand he has not played for the United States in an official FIFA-sanctioned competition at the senior international level.
The defender was named to the national team by head coach Dave Sarachan, who won three MLS Cups as an assistant coach with the LA Galaxy from 2008-2016.
The Dynamo defender has started in five games for the Dynamo this season and is tied for the second most interceptions on the team with eight. Valentin is also second on the team in clearances with 11 and has won possession 23 times this season. This is Valentin’s second season with the Dynamo after joining in a trade with Nashville SC prior to the 2020 regular season.
