6 players to miss Toronto match

International call-ups will leave Five Stripes a bit short March 23.

Atlanta United will play without six players for its March 23 match at Toronto.

Because of international callups, the team will be without striker Giorgos Giakoumakis, midfielders Thiago Almada, Bartosz Slisz and Jay Fortune, fullback Caleb Wiley and centerback Luis Abram. The quintet will be available for Sunday’s match against Orlando at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“I don’t think about Toronto now,” Atlanta United manager Gonzalo Pineda said. “I’m just focused on Orlando. And we will see what happens after that.”

Giakoumakis, who leads the team with three goals, was called up by Greece for its Euro qualifying match against Kazakhstan on Thursday.

Almada was called to Argentina’s U23 side for matches against Mexico’s U23s on March 22 and March 25. He has made four appearances for Argentina’s senior team.

Wiley, who started the first two matches and should start Sunday, was called into the U.S. team for friendlies against Guinea on March 22 in Olot, Spain, and France on March 25 in Montbeliard, France. The matches are part of the team’s preparations for the Summer Olympics in Paris.

Slisz, who started the first two matches and also should start Sunday, was called up by Poland for its Euro qualifying match against Estonia on Thursday.

Fortune was called to Trinidad and Tobago’s team for its Nations League play-in match against Canada on March 23 in Frisco, Texas.

Abram was called to Peru’s team for its match against Nicaragua on March 22 in Lima.

Thiago Almada may get called to Argentina’s Olympic team for its preparations for the Summer Games. The Argentine roster hasn’t been announced.

A positive is that Atlanta United’s roster is deeper than in past years. Jamal Thiare is expected to replace Giakoumakis at striker. Nic Firmino can step in for Almada, and Dax McCarty can replace Slisz.

Giorgos Giakoumakis has been called up for a Euro qualifier for Greece.