VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed on Wednesday that first team goalkeeper Stefan Marinović, and Whitecaps FC 2 defender Deklan Wynne and striker Myer Bevan have been called up to the New Zealand national team for the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September.
This marks Bevan's first call-up to the senior national team, while Marinović and Wynne have 19 and 11 caps for the Kiwis, respectively.
New Zealand and Solomon Islands won their respective groups in the third round of qualifying for the Oceania Football Confederation, and now meet in a two-leg series. The winner advances to a playoff against the fifth-place team from CONMEBOL in November for a berth in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The opening leg between New Zealand and Solomon Islands is slated for September 1 at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland, before the scene shifts four days later to Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara.
Marinović has started all nine 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and each of the their three matches in last June's FIFA Confederations Cup. The Auckland native signed with Whitecaps FC in July as a free agent.
Wynne has appeared in the last four 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and started versus Mexico and Russia in the Confederations Cup. He has a goal and an assist in 13 starts and appearances in the 2017 USL season.
Bevan has international experience with the New Zealand U-20 national team, making his debut with a hat trick versus Cook Islands in the Oceania World Cup qualifiers in 2016. Bevan also scored a brace versus Honduras in the2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in May, and has two goals in only four starts since joining WFC2.
Teamwork makes the dream work! @myer_bevan and @TGardner_ connect to put the hosts ahead! @wfc2 leads @RGVFC 2-1! #VANvRGVpic.twitter.com/KYZB4QRNWi
— USL (@USL) August 2, 2017
The three players will be away from September 1 through 6. Marinović is not expected to miss any MLS matches, while Wynne and Bevan will miss the September 6 home USL match against Tulsa Roughnecks FC.
