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was withdrawn from the squad due to injury.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Percy Tau who was withdrawn from the squad due to family reasons.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.
