Sacramento, Calif. – Republic FC striker Kharlton Belmar and goalkeeper Rafael Diaz have been selected by Grenada and Dominican Republic, as both countries begin regional qualifying play for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. This marks the first World Cup Qualifying selection for both players.
“It is an honor to represent your country and we’re excited for Kharlton and Rafa to take to the international stage as ambassadors of our club,” said Republic FC Head Coach Mark Briggs. “We wish them both the best of luck and look forward to their return, as we prepare for the season ahead.”
Diaz returns to the Dominican Republic Men’s National Team after he was recently featured for the Dominican Republic in a friendly on January 25th and shocked the soccer world by recording a clean sheet in his first national team appearance against 30th ranked Serbia. It will be Belmar’s first time wearing the crest of the Grenadian Men’s National Team, as he seeks his first international cap.
Sacramento, Calif. – Republic FC striker Kharlton Belmar and goalkeeper Rafael Diaz have been selected by Grenada and Dominican Republic, as both countries begin regional qualifying play for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. This marks the first World Cup Qualifying selection for both players.
“It is an honor to represent your country and we’re excited for Kharlton and Rafa to take to the international stage as ambassadors of our club,” said Republic FC Head Coach Mark Briggs. “We wish them both the best of luck and look forward to their return, as we prepare for the season ahead.”
Diaz returns to the Dominican Republic Men’s National Team after he was recently featured for the Dominican Republic in a friendly on January 25th and shocked the soccer world by recording a clean sheet in his first national team appearance against 30th ranked Serbia. It will be Belmar’s first time wearing the crest of the Grenadian Men’s National Team, as he seeks his first international cap.
In 2020, Kharlton Belmar featured 14 times (10 starts) for Republic FC in his first season with the club. He led the club with 4 assists in the abbreviated campaign, while adding a goal to the team’s attack. In Week 12, he earned his ninth career USL Team of the Week selection by delivering three assists – the first in a come-from-behind win, down a man, against Orange County SC, and two against Reno 1868 FC in a 3-3 draw. He currently is 18th in all-time USL Championship scorers – and tied for 13th among active players in the 2020 season. Born in Virginia, Belmar is eligible to join Grenada through dual-citizenship, granted through his parents – both Grenadian citizens.
In 2020, Kharlton Belmar featured 14 times (10 starts) for Republic FC in his first season with the club. He led the club with 4 assists in the abbreviated campaign, while adding a goal to the team’s attack. In Week 12, he earned his ninth career USL Team of the Week selection by delivering three assists – the first in a come-from-behind win, down a man, against Orange County SC, and two against Reno 1868 FC in a 3-3 draw. He currently is 18th in all-time USL Championship scorers – and tied for 13th among active players in the 2020 season. Born in Virginia, Belmar is eligible to join Grenada through dual-citizenship, granted through his parents – both Grenadian citizens.
In three seasons in Sacramento, Diaz has recorded six career clean sheets during league play and seven across all competitions. In 2020, he posted an unbeaten 7-0-3 record during regular season play. In August, through 4 games in 14 days, he nearly broke the club record for consecutive minutes without surrendering a single score with 320 straight scoreless minutes – just 15 minutes shy of the record. Rafa’s efforts were honored with a pair of USL Championship Fans’ Choice Save of the Week selections (Week 8 and Week 12) and a USL Team of the Week Selection (Week 15.) Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Diaz is eligible by birth to represent the country at the senior level, after featuring in US Youth National Team camps.
The first-round features Concacaf teams ranked 6-35, drawn into six groups of five. Each team will play four matches – two home and two away, facing each group opponent once. The matches will be played in the FIFA match windows – March 24-28 and June 2-8. At the end of the First Round, the six group winners will progress to the Second Round.
Diaz’s Dominican Republic team will host Dominica at Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez in Santo Domingo on March 24 at 4:00 p.m. PT. They will travel to Miami to play Anguilla at Inter Miami CF Stadium at 3:00 p.m. PT on March 27.
Belmar’s Grenada side will open play against El Salvador at Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador on March 26 at 6:30 p.m. PT. Grenada will then host U.S. Virgin Islands at Kirani James Athletics Stadium in St. George's, on March 30 at 4:00 p.m. PT.
For more information, visit www.sacrepublicfc.com.
In three seasons in Sacramento, Diaz has recorded six career clean sheets during league play and seven across all competitions. In 2020, he posted an unbeaten 7-0-3 record during regular season play. In August, through 4 games in 14 days, he nearly broke the club record for consecutive minutes without surrendering a single score with 320 straight scoreless minutes – just 15 minutes shy of the record. Rafa’s efforts were honored with a pair of USL Championship Fans’ Choice Save of the Week selections (Week 8 and Week 12) and a USL Team of the Week Selection (Week 15.) Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Diaz is eligible by birth to represent the country at the senior level, after featuring in US Youth National Team camps.
The first-round features Concacaf teams ranked 6-35, drawn into six groups of five. Each team will play four matches – two home and two away, facing each group opponent once. The matches will be played in the FIFA match windows – March 24-28 and June 2-8. At the end of the First Round, the six group winners will progress to the Second Round.
Diaz’s Dominican Republic team will host Dominica at Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez in Santo Domingo on March 24 at 4:00 p.m. PT. They will travel to Miami to play Anguilla at Inter Miami CF Stadium at 3:00 p.m. PT on March 27.
Belmar’s Grenada side will open play against El Salvador at Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador on March 26 at 6:30 p.m. PT. Grenada will then host U.S. Virgin Islands at Kirani James Athletics Stadium in St. George’s, on March 30 at 4:00 p.m. PT.
For more information, visit www.sacrepublicfc.com.
