Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Edson Castillo has been rewarded for his form after being called up to the Venezuela national team for their upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Despite the Glamour Boys’ struggles, Castillo has been arguably their most standout player, having scored four goals in all competitions from midfield.
The 29-year-old was called-up to La Vinotinto as a late replacement for Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union midfielder Jesus Bueno, who was withdrawn from the squad due to injury.
Venezuela are set to play World Cup qualifiers against Brazil on Friday away and Chile next Tuesday at home. Fernando Batista’s charges are currently lying fifth in the 10-team CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table, with the top six teams qualifying automatically after 18 rounds of matches.
Venezuela currently have three points from their first two matches after they opened their campaign with a narrow 1-0 loss against Colombia away but bounced back with a 1-0 victory against Paraguay on home soil.
Castillo is the second Chiefs player to receive a late call-up ahead of the upcoming international break, after his teammate Mduduzi Mdantsane was called-up to Bafana Bafana as a late replacement for Al Ahly midfielder Percy Tau who was withdrawn from the squad due to family reasons.
Overall, the Glamour Boys have five players on international duty, including Sibongiseni Mthethwa for Bafana, Edmilson Dove for Mozambique and Thatayaone Ditlhokwe for Botswana.
The last time Castillo featured for Venezuela was in October 2021, in a World Cup qualifier against Brazil, where he came on as a substitute in a 3-1 loss. The versatile midfielder will be hoping to get his seventh senior cap.
