For the first time in his career, Portland Timbers defender Zac McGraw has been called up for international duty.
A graduate of the U.S. Army’s military academy at West Point, McGraw, 26, will compete on the international level for the Canada men’s national team in the upcoming Concacaf Gold Cup tournament later this summer. McGraw was born and raised in California but his mother is Canadian and McGraw has Canadian citizenship.
McGraw will depart to join team Canada after the Timbers’ June 21 match against the Chicago Fire. International duty will have him miss three games for Portland: June 24 vs. NYCFC, July 1 at Minnesota United, and July 4 at the Colorado Rapids. If Canada advances to the final of the tournament on July 16, McGraw would also miss Portland’s July 15 match vs. the Columbus Crew.
So far in 2023, McGraw has played the second-most minutes on the team (1,516) behind Diego Chará (all 1,620) and he leads the Timbers in blocks (19), interceptions (32) and aerial duels won (53). McGraw has been one of Portland’s most important players this season and is a consistent presence along the back line.
Team Canada is in Group D of the Gold Cup with a TBD opponent June 27 at 4 p.m. PT in Toronto, Guatemala at 6:30 p.m. July 1 in Houston, and Cuba at 3:30 p.m. July 4 in Houston.
— Ryan Clarke, rclarke@oregonian.com, Twitter: @RyanTClarke
