NASHVILLE, TN – Nashville SC goalkeeper Xavier Valdez has been called up to the Dominican Republic squad for the upcoming FIFA international window.
The Dominican Republic will play four matches in Concacaf Nations League qualifying, taking on Nicaragua (Thursday, September 24), Trinidad & Tobago (Sunday, September 27), Haiti (Thursday, October 1), and Nicaragua (Sunday, October 4).
Por si se perdieron el video, aquí les dejo la convocatoria más detallada 🙌🏻🔥😎 ¡NOS VEMOS EN 10 DIAS! pic.twitter.com/Es0anG0EMz
— Selección Dominicana de Futbol (@sedofutbol) September 14, 2026
Valdez, 22, made his Nashville SC debut earlier this year, starting their Leagues Cup matches against Club León and CF Monterrey. Since joining Nashville ahead of the 2025 season, Valdez has played the bulk of his minutes with Huntsville City FC in MLS NEXT Pro, keeping four clean sheets in 14 appearances.
At the international level, Valdez has held down the starting job for the Dominican Republic, starting 17 of their last 18 matches. In total, he's made 30 appearances at the international level, including all three matches at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup.
Valdez's call-up, in conjunction with Brian Schwake's selection in the United States squad, leaves Nashville in a tricky position for their September 26 match against Toronto FC. 38-year-old Joe Willis, who started 204 matches for Nashville between 2020 and 2025, is expected to be the starter.
With no other senior goalkeepers in the squad, 18-year-old Will Mackay could be added on a short-term call-up from Huntsville City FC. In his first season with the Nashville organization, the Real Salt Lake product and US U18 international has been the primary starting option for the Rocket Men, keeping six clean sheets in 20 starts.
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