The March Men’s international window this year was a bit of a weird one. With the World Cup in less than three months, teams participating in the international window fell into three groups: teams in international last chance qualifiers, qualified teams playing in tune ups to determine final roster spots, or teams that missed out playing friendlies just to play. For DC United and Loudoun United, the five players with potential matches fell into the later two categories. Lets take a look at the results.

DC United

Tai Baribo (Israel)

With no World Cup preparations required, Israel scheduled a friendly in Tblisi for this international window. Georgia’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia put the home side ahead in the 36^th minute with a long, low strike from outside the arc. The Georgian captain doubled the lead for Jvarosnebi in the second half, with a shot from inside the 18 yard box. Israel found the scoring touch in quick succession shortly after. Guy Mizrahi cut the deficit in half with a goal in the 60^th minute. Four minutes later, Omri Gandelman found the equalizer. The match finished 2-2. Israel will return to action in September for their UEFA Nations League match up against Austria.

Jackson Hopkins (USA U-21)

US Soccer scheduled a pair of matches between the US U-21 team in South Korea against the Japanese U-21 and South Korean U-23 teams. The US beat Japan 2-0 and South Korea 4-1. Based upon photos, Hopkins started the match against Japan, but not the South Korean tilt.

Matti Peltola (Finland)

Finland traveled to Auckland to face World Cup qualifiers New Zealand and Cabo Verde in a pair of friendlies. Against New Zealand, Finnish captain Joel Pohjanpalo leapt high to head home a corner to open up scoring in the 25^th minute. In the 85^th, a Topi Keskinen pass found Jaakko Oksanen wide open in the middle of the penalty area. Oksanen drove it into the back of the net to seal the 2-0 Huuhkajat win. Against Cabo Verde, Naatan Skyttä beat keeper Márcio Rosa in first half stoppage time to give Finland a 1-0 lead. Kelvin Spencer Pires headed home the equalizer for Cabo Verde in the 67^th minute. The match finished 1-1 and went to a shootout where Cabo Verde emerged victorious 4-2. Finland will play Germany in Mainz on May 31^st in what will be Germany’s last friendly in Europe prior to the World Cup.

Matti Peltola subbed on in the 80^th minute against New Zealand and in the 56^th minute against Cabo Verde.

Kai Rowles (Australia)

Australia continued their preparations for the 2026 World Cup with friendlies against Cameroon and World Cup debutant Curaçao in Sydney and Melbourne. The Indomitable Lions and the Socceroos played a dour 0-0 match for much of the night. Feyenoord’s Jordan Bos scored an 85^th minute goal to give Australia the win. The Socceroos match against Curaçao did not wait as long to decided. Tied 1-1 in the 67^th minute, Australia scored four goals in 17 minutes to put the result beyond doubt. Prior to the World Cup, Australia will face Mexico at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena in a friendly at the end of May.

Rowles was a late injury addition to the Socceroos’ roster. He wasn’t on the bench for the match against Cameroon. Rowles did start against Curaçao and went 67 minutes before being replaced by Cameron Burgess.

Loudoun United

Arquimides Ordonez (Guatemala)

Guatemala faced off against World Cup qualifier Algeria in Genova, Italy during this window. Algeria ran away with match, putting up 7 goals over the 90 minutes played. Ordonez subbed in and played the last 45 minutes for Los Chapines.