FRISCO, Texas (Monday, June 29) – FC Dallas forwards Blas Perez (Panama) and Tesho Akindele (Canada), and midfielder Kyle Bekker (Canada) reported to their respective national teams today to prepare for the upcoming 2015 CONACAF Gold Cup.
Co-hosted by the U.S. and Canada, the 2015 Gold Cup kicks off with a doubleheader at FC Dallas’ Toyota Stadium on Tuesday, July 7. The tournament opens with Perez and Panama facing Haiti at 6 p.m. CT. Immediately following that match, the U.S. faces Honduras at 8:30 p.m. CT.
Perez, 34, is in line for his 94th cap with the Panamanian National Team. FC Dallas’ leading scorer in each of the past three seasons, he equaled his MLS high last season with 11 goals in 29 appearances. He also (6) surpassed his previous MLS high for assists in a season (4 in 2012). Perez has five goals this season. He ranks third all-time in FCD history with 36 goals in 88 appearances.
The 2014 MLS Rookie of the Year, Akindele has three goals and an assist in nine starts for FC Dallas this season. He scored seven times and added three assists in 2014. Akindele recently debuted for Canada in a World Cup qualifying match against Dominica on June 11, 2015. He scored in his second international match, a 4-0 win against Dominica at BMO Field on June 16.
Bekker, 24, has logged 313 minutes in the defensive midfield for FC Dallas this season. The Boston College product has appeared 15 times for the Canadian National Team.
Canada opens the 2015 Gold Cup against El Salvador at StubHub Center on Wednesday, July 8. The match is scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. CT.
About FC Dallas
A member of Major League Soccer since its inception in 1996, FC Dallas is owned and operated by Hunt Sports Group. The professional team plays from March to November at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. One of the first soccer-specific stadiums built in the United States, the venue plays host to Major League Soccer matches, concerts, international soccer matches and high school football. The 145-acre Toyota Soccer Center also includes 17 regulation-sized, tournament-grade soccer fields and is also home to the organization’s nationally-renowned youth development system.
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