Columbus Crew SC today announced that defender Waylon Francis has earned a senior roster call-up by Costa Rica for a pair of upcoming friendlies. Francis is on the Ticos’ roster as named by Head Coach Paulo Wanchope for contests on March 26 vs. Paraguay and March 31 at Panama. Should he remain with the squad for the full duration, Francis would miss the Black & Gold’s March 28 Major League Soccer clash against the New York Red Bulls.
The defender has earned several call-ups to the Costa Rica National Team while a member of Crew SC, including at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where the Ticos made a run to the Quarterfinals of the tournament. He also was in the Costa Rican squad for a friendly on November 13, 2014 at Uruguay.
Francis, 24, earned his first cap for Costa Rica at the 2013 Copa Centroamericana when he started for the Ticos in a 2-0 win against Nicaragua on January 20 of that year. Costa Rica went on to win that tournament with an eventual 1-0 victory over Honduras in the Final.
Prior to his tenure with the senior team, Francis appeared in Olympic qualifying with a pair of appearances for the country’s Under-23 side in 2011.
Crew SC returns home to MAPFRE Stadium for the Opening Match tomorrow, Saturday, March 14 against Toronto FC at 7:30 p.m. ET.
