Philadelphia Union midfielder Adam Najem has been called into the Afghanistan national team for the first time, the club announced on Tuesday. The 23-year-old will travel to his ancestral homeland for a friendly vs. Palestine on Aug. 19 at Ghazi Stadium in Kabul, preceded by a training camp in Dubai.
It’s the first international call for Najem, but it continues a multi-generational tradition for the native of Clifton, New Jersey, with several members of his extended family having represented “the Lions of Khurasan” in years past. He told reporters he was initially approached about playing for the country via a Facebook message from an Afghan coach in California.
The Palestine friendly falls on Afghanistan’s independence day, and marks the nation’s first home match in some five years.
“We weren’t too sure if I was going to be able to make this game,” Najem told ProSoccerUSA.com. “The coach was telling me it’s not part of a FIFA date or anything, but it’s such a big game for the country that I asked the [Union’s] coaches if I could go and be part of it and they’ve been really supportive and let me go.
“It’s going to be an amazing experience,” he added. “They don’t have many home games, but that’s their goal, to show it can be a place that can host these types of games. I’ve gotten a lot of messages from fans over there and a lot of support has been shown. I’m really excited to be part of that and hopefully take the next step with the Afghan soccer community and show them they can be a country that can compete on a world stage.”
A product of the New York Red Bulls academy who joined the Union via a trade last year after four standout college seasons at Akron, Najem made five MLS appearances last season but has been limited to USL action with Bethlehem Steel FC in 2018, scoring two goals and two assists for Philly’s affiliate team.
