Sporting Kansas City midfielder Jorge Claros joined the Honduras Men’s National Team for two upcoming friendlies, the club announced.
Honduras will play host to Venezuela on Feb. 4 at Estadio Olimpico in San Pedro Sula before traveling for the away leg on Feb. 11 at Estadio Agustin Tovar in Barinas.
“I am always excited to play with Honduras,” Claros said. “These are very important matches as we prepare for our Gold Cup qualification matches against French Guyana in March.”
Honduras, No. 72 in the latest FIFA rankings, are set to play their first matches of 2015 and will do so under new manager Jorge Luis Pinto. The reigning CONCACAF Coach of the Year accepted the position in December after leading Costa Rica to the quarterfinals at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The two international friendlies are the final two scheduled matches for Honduras before facing French Guyana on March 25 (away) and March 29 (home) in a play-in series for the final berth in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Venezuela, ranked No. 87 in the world, will continue preparations for this summer’s 2015 Copa America, in which they were drawn against South American heavyweights Brazil and Colombia in the group stage.
Claros, 29, played all three matches for Honduras at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and also represented his native country at the 2008 Summer Olympics. He most recently represented Honduras in October 2014 during friendlies against CONCACAF rivals Mexico and the United States.
Sporting Kansas City acquired Claros in July 2014 from Motagua of the Honduran Liga Nacional. He made eight MLS appearances (including postseason) and featured in all four of the club’s matches in the 2014/15 CONCACAF Champions League.
– Story from Sporting KC