Nashville SC defender Andy Najar has been called up to the Honduras National Team ahead of three matches in the March FIFA window.
"La H" will take on Guatemala in a friendly match at Inter Miami's Chase Stadium on March 16, before playing a two-leg Gold Cup qualifier series against Bermuda on March 21 and 25.
🔥 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗩𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗔 𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟 ||
— Federación de Fútbol de Honduras (FFH) (@FFH_Honduras) March 12, 2025
🛡️ 𝗘𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮́𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗲 #𝗟𝗮𝗛 🇭🇳
📝 Lista de convocados por el 👤 Seleccionador Nacional Reinaldo Rueda para los partidos del mes de marzo.
📅 16 de marzo – Amistoso… pic.twitter.com/NfUNRcGWRB
Najar, 31, has played for Honduras 51 times over his career, including playing in two of their three matches at the 2014 World Cup. His last appearance came in November 2024, playing 90 minutes in Honduras's 2-0 Nations League quarterfinal win over Mexico, as well as the full match in the second leg, a 4-0 loss.
Najar scored Nashville SC's first goal of the 2025 campaign, a goal that proved to be the winner in a 2-0 victory over the Portland Timbers. Najar has been a standout performer in his first season in Music City, earning MLS Team of the Matchday honors.
Bryan Acosta was not selected after missing Nashville SC's first three matches of the season with injury. His last match for Honduras was their 2-0 win over Mexico, leaving the match with an injury.
How will this impact Nashville?
Nashville travel to Philadelphia Union on Sunday, March 16, and then return home against CF Montréal on Saturday, March 22. Najar will miss both matches, and depending on fitness once he returns from Honduras's match on March 25, his availability for Nashville's home match against FC Cincinnati on March 29 could be impacted.
Julian Gaines is the natural backup option for Najar on Nashville's roster, but hasn't featured yet during the 2025 season, recovering from an injury suffered in preseason. He returned to full training last week and could be an option against Philadelphia on Sunday.
Josh Bauer, a center back, has featured as a right back several times, and spent much of preseason as the backup right back. He gives Nashville another option, as does Alex Muyl, who could shift over from a left midfield role in an emergency.
UPDATED March 13, 1:29 pm: Nashville SC confirmed on Thursday that Andy Najar will not leave on international duty until Monday, March 17. He will be available for Nashville SC's match against Philadelphia Union on the 16th, only playing for Honduras in their two-legged Gold Cup qualifying series against Bermuda on March 21 and 25.
Related
