O-Town's 11
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Don't despair as six Orlando City SC players had to international duty

• Not just for friendlies this time
• FIFA times call-ups in-between playoff matches
• Lot of work left to do

By Chuck Wharton

Nov 9, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City defender Rafael Santos (3) celebrates scoring during a round of penalty kicks against the Charlotte FC in a 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One match at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Nov 9, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City defender Rafael Santos (3) celebrates scoring during a round of penalty kicks against the Charlotte FC in a 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One match at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images / Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
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Six Lions have embarked on international duty during the brief break in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup playoffs.

Supporters need not panic. During this break in the 2024 MLS Cup playoffs, six Orlando City SC players have been called for international duty.

But by the end of the break, they will return seasoned by competition with their national teams. They are:

Midfielder Facundo Torres, Uruguay; goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and midfielder Wilder Cartagena, Peru; midfielder and right-back Dagur Dan Thorhallsson, Iceland; defender David Brekalo, Slovenia; and midfielder Favian Loyola, Chile.

This won’t be just for practice or friendlies for most of the players. Uruguay and Peru are in World Cup Qualifiers.  Iceland and Slovenia compete in the Nations League.

Chile will indeed be in friendlies for Favian Loyola and teammates in the U20 squad. Loyola hasn’t seen action this season with the senior club. He occupies a roster position in the Supplemental Slots 29-30.

Flavian Loyola
Aug 10, 2022; Blaine, MN, USA; MLS Next East player Favian Loyola (16) of Orlando City dribbles the ball against MLS Next West during the second half of the 2022 MLS NEXT All-Star Game at National Sports Center Indoor Sports Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

He was affiliated with the Orlando City Academy once his family moved to Florida. He was a member of the U17 Academy team that won the MLS Next Pro National Championship in 2021.

The First Team signed him to a contract as a Homegrown player in 2022, taking effect in Jan. 2023. Loyola is the 13th Homegrown player signed by Orlando City.  But he is the first to fully complete the organization’s development pathway after starting with Orlando City Academy, then progressing through the new iteration of Orlando City B in MLS Next Pro.

Orlando has not just worked inside the box in furthering player development for the club’s future. The organization this season sent defender Abdi Salim to Detroit City SC in USL for more rapid seasoning.

FIFA must be commended for carefully timing this valuable international break during a pause in MLS playoffs. Orlando City SC will be watching the traveling squad members.

They’re getting in some valuable work. And there’s a lot of work still to do.

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