The Portuguese club Porto’s team for the World Cup club comprises midfielder Stephen Eustaquio, the captain of Canada, who is also mentioned in the schedule of his national team for the ongoing Concacaf Gold Cup that is held in the United States.
Having a player who represents both his club and national team at the same time in two official competitions is a rare event in football history.
Porto started his campaign in the renewed tournament with a scoreless draw against the Brazilian Palmeiras last Monday in East Rutherford, only one day before Canada’s Gold Cup opener in Vancouver.
With the Gold Cup jointly organized by Canada and the US, and the Canadian team that continues to Houston, for the rest of his group stage matches, the possibility became that Eustaquio will join the team, on condition that Porto’s trip in the World Cup club ends.
The flight from East Rutherford to Houston takes approximately three hours.
«(It is) allowed by FIFA and Concacaf,» said Canada’s Media Office Reuters.
«Eustaquioo was appointed as both schedules a few weeks ago, and if fit and capable, he will become a member of the National Team of Canada Soccer after the conclusion of Porto at the Club World Cup,» the national team added in an e -mail.
Read: Haji Wright will miss the rest of the Concacaf Gold Cup with Achilles injury
The inclusion of 28-year-old Eustaquioo in both squadrons comes at a time when many players are wary of fatigue at the end of the season.
Porto did not respond to Reuters‘Request for comments.
The Portuguese side concludes the group stage with a match against Al Ahly van Egypt on Monday. It remains unclear whether it will continue to the knockout rounds.
Canada, meanwhile, crushed Honduras 6-0 and pulled 1–1 with Curacao on Sunday. It ends the group stage against El Salvador on 24 June.
Eustaquioo came from the bank in the draw against Palmeiras and the 2-1 loss for Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.
The Canadian team said: «We want him to do well in the club of Club and we also welcome him back in the men’s run at the Gold Cup.»
