While the potential dream matchup between Anders Dreyer and Chucky Lozano did not come to pass, San Diego FC will be well represented in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Midfielder Aníbal Godoy and goalkeeper CJ dos Santos, both of whom played integral roles in SDFC’s run to the MLS Western Conference final last season, will take the pitch for Panama and Cape Verde as part of what is expected to be the most-viewed sporting event in history.
Both hope to see their respective national squads become the 2026 Cinderella story of the World Cup. Their example? Morocco, which in 2022 made it all the way to the semifinals after defeating the likes of Spain and Portugal.
“We know our group is so difficult,” said Godoy. “I think we have to be ready for that challenge. He added, though of SDFC, “all the players here try to help me the best way they can to be ready to compete in the World Cup.”
Godoy played for Panama in the 2018 World Cup and has 159 caps for Los Canaleros, making him the most-capped player in the history of the men’s national team.
As for dos Santos, he is representing Cape Verde, making its first appearance in the tournament after finishing on top of Group D in the African qualifiers.
“It’s an absolute blessing to represent the country. This is something that I have wanted ever since I was two or three years old,” said dos Santos. “I didn’t know where, I didn’t know when, I didn’t know how it was going to be, but I did everything in my power to make it come through.”
Cape Verde, about 400 miles west of Africa’s mainland, has a population of approximately 600,000 people, making it the second-smallest country by population to ever qualify for the men’s tournament, behind Iceland.
Aníbal Godoy answers questions during a press conference after SDFC’s 2026 season opener in February. (File photo by Thomas Murphy/Times of San Diego)The 25-year-old native of Philadelphia, who represented the United States at the U-17 and U-20 youth levels, made his first trip to Cape Verde in 2007.
“I have nothing but fond memories,” he said. “Playing football on the beach, hearing all the music, people playing on the streets, all the liveliness and joy that they have over there.”
Dos Santos made his first appearance as goalkeeper for Cape Verde in a friendly match on Sunday against Serbia. Cape Verde won 3-0; dos Santos came off the bench to start the second half.
The World Cup opener for Cape Verde is on June 15 in Atlanta versus Spain while Panama begins play on June 17 in Toronto against Ghana.
Godoy, a 36-year-old native of Panama City, got a tattoo of the 2026 World Cup logo on his right arm immediately after his national team qualified by defeating El Salvador 3-0 on Nov. 18, 2025. This will be a special tournament for him.
“I think this is my last one and also my last camp for the national team,” Godoy said. “After the World Cup, I’ll retire from the national team.”
Fans may have wished to see more San Diego players in the World Cup, including stars Dreyer and Lozano. But Denmark was eliminated from the World Cup by the Czech Republic on penalties in the UEFA playoff, and Lozano, who has not played all season, did not make Mexico’s squad.
SDFC won’t see league action again for almost two months. The club dropped its last game before the World Cup break, falling to Vancouver 4-2. Once league play resumes, SDFC will take on the Colorado Rapids on the road on July 22.
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