NSC’s Walker Zimmerman, Alistair Johnston Called Up For World Cup Qualifiers

Walker Zimmerman and Alistair Johnston

With the 2022 World Cup Qualifier matches coming up, Nashville SC’s Walker Zimmerman and Alistair Johnston have been called up by the U.S Men’s National Team and the Canadian Men’s National Team, respectively.

Zimmerman, a 2021 MLS All-Star, will play in three matches for the U.S. in a span of a week–first against the Salvadorian team on Sept. 2 in El Salvador, then facing the Canadian team on Sept. 5 in Nashville, and the final match against Honduras on Sept. 8.

Zimmerman has been one the key pieces for NSC’s success the past two seasons. Zimmerman who currently has 17 caps for the Red, White and Blue, is coming off a 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup call up that saw him start all three matches in the opening round while captaining the National Team for the final two matches before having to exit the tournament due to injury.

Johnston has appeared in 10 games for the Canadian side in which the team has had a record of 8W-2L-0D with a goal differential of plus 28 and five clean sheets. The two losses were suffered by just one goal apiece. Like his club teammate, Johnston is coming off the Gold Cup where he played every minute for Canada, leading the squad to the semi-final round against Mexico.

The 22-year-old will play in three World Cup Qualifying matches for Canada–two in Toronto against Honduras on Sept. 2 and El Salvador on Sept. 8. He will be with the Canadian side when they face the U.S.A at Nissan Stadium on Sept. 5.

Both will rejoin Nashville SC when it faces Atlanta United FC on Saturday (Aug. 28) before heading off to their respective teams.

Steven Boero