Texas Based Players called up for Copa America

Four players based in Texas will be playing in this year’s Copa America which gets underway on Thursday night.

Adalberto Carrasquilla of Houston Dynamo will represent Panama and Julio Cascante of Austin FC will represent Costa Rica. Jamaica will have two USL Championship players in Jahmali White from El Paso Locomotive and Kevon Lambert of San Antonio FC who received a late call up after Leon Bailey declined the call up.

Jahmali White will likely not see much action, brought in as a back up goalkeeper, but he has played six games for the Reggae Boyz, although only one of those has come in a competitive international. He is joined by fellow Texas team player Kevon Lambert, who came in as the 27^th man. Lambert was something of a surprise call up, despite holding 25 caps he has not played for Jamaica since 2020. That may lead to the USL Championship fans in Texas being frustrated at losing two important players for such a vital stage of the season but not seeing any action for Jamaica.

Adalberto Carrasquilla has become a crucial part of the Panama side in recent years, since his first appearance in 2018. Now holding 54 caps he will be heavily used in the tournament. Carrasquilla is in career best form for Panama, winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup golden ball award for being the best player in the tournament, he will be eager to produce again against harder opposition.

The final Texas based player in the Copa America is Julio Cascante who has used an impressive season with Austin FC to start firmly establishing himself in the Costa Rican national team. After making his debut back in 2015 it took until 2023 when he was doing well for Austin to make his way back to the side and he’s been hard to remove, playing eight games since returning to the set up.

Beyond just seeing their players involved Texans will also get plenty of opportunities to see the tournament, hosting 8 games throughout the Copa America including two quarter-finals.

The first of those matches will be June 21^st with Peru taking on Chile at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Jamaica’s pair of Texas based players will feel at home with two of their three group stage matches being played in Texas, against Mexico at NRG Stadium in Houston and against Venezuela at Q2 Stadium in Austin.

The tournament gets underway in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium tomorrow night when defending champions Argentina take on debutants Canada.