Rapids and the World Cup
(The following was edited on May 26, 2010 to include former Rapids players Herculez Gomez and Marcus Hahnemann who were named to the U.S. National team 23-man roster for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa).
The 2010 FIFA World Cup kicks off in South Africa on June 11, 2010, and for the first time since Major League Soccer began in 1996, no current Colorado Rapids players will be participating in the world’s largest sporting event.
Over the course of the club’s 15 year history, Colorado has had 19 players and two head coaches that either joined the Rapids with World Cup experience, made a World Cup roster during their time with the club, or would go on to make a World Cup squad after their time with the team.
These players and coaches have represented the national teams of the United States, Argentina, Colombia, England, Sweden, Morocco, Jamaica, South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago in at least one of the last six tournaments, dating back to the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
In a new RapidsTV video series, current and former Rapids players Steve Trittschuh, Marcelo Balboa, Claudio Lopez, and Pablo Mastroeni share their respective World Cup memories and experiences.
Watch: STEVE TRITTSCHUH - former Rapids captain, 1990 World Cup.
Watch: PABLO MASTROENI - current Rapids captain, 2002 & 2002 World Cups.
ALL-TIME COLORADO RAPIDS PLAYERS THAT WERE PART OF A WORLD CUP ROSTER:
Name (year with the Rapids): Nationality - World Cup Participated
Khalil Azmi (1996): Morocco - 1994
Marcelo Balboa (1996-2001): USA – 1990, 1994, 1998
Shaun Bartlett (1996-1997): South Africa – 1998
Chris Dawes (2001): Jamaica – 1998
Cornell Glenn (2006): Trinidad and Tobago – 2006
Herculez Gomez (2007-2008): USA - 2010
Marcus Hahnemann (1997-1999): USA – 2006, 2010
Chris Henderson (1996-1998; 2002-2005): USA – 1990
Anders Limpar (1999-2000): Sweden – 1994
Claudio Lopez (2010-current): Argentina – 1998, 2002
Pablo Mastroeni (2002-current): USA – 2002, 2006
Clint Mathis (2006): USA – 2002
Darryl Powell (2003-2004): Jamaica – 1998
Tony Sanneh (2007): USA – 2002
Steve Trittschuh (1996-1998): USA – 1990
Carlos Valderrama (2001-2002): Colombia – 1990, 1994, 1998
Peter Vermes (1997-1999): USA – 1990
Roy Wegerle (1996-97): USA – 1994, 1998
Chris Woods (1996): England – 1986, 1990
In addition, two former coaches also were part of World Cups: Glenn ‘Mooch’ Myernick (1997-2000) was an assistant coach for the U.S. team at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups; and Fernando Clavijo (2005-2008) was a member of the U.S. 1994 World Cup squad.