Stephen Eustaquio is doing something we rarely see in football. The Porto midfielder is officially listed in squads for two major tournaments happening at the same time – the Club World Cup with Porto and the CONCACAF Gold Cup with Canada.
This unusual situation has turned heads in the football world. Players typically focus on one competition at a time, especially when representing different teams.
Porto kicked off their Club World Cup journey with a goalless draw against Brazil's Palmeiras last Monday. Interestingly, this happened just one day before Canada's Gold Cup opener in Vancouver.
How is this even possible?
The logistics seem challenging but not impossible. With the Gold Cup being hosted in both Canada and the US, and the Canadian team moving to Houston for their remaining group matches, Eustaquio could realistically join his national team if Porto's Club World Cup campaign ends early.
The flight from East Rutherford to Houston takes only about three hours. This makes the quick transition between teams possible.
"It's allowed by FIFA and CONCACAF," Canada's media office confirmed. They added that if Eustaquio is fit and able, he'll join Canada's team after Porto finishes their Club World Cup run.
What makes this even more remarkable is that many players are complaining about fatigue at this point in the season. Yet here's Eustaquio, ready to play in two major tournaments back-to-back.
Current tournament situations
So far, Eustaquio has come off the bench for Porto in their draw against Palmeiras and their 2-1 loss to Lionel Messi's Inter Miami. Porto will face Egypt's Al Ahly on Monday in their final group stage match.
Meanwhile, Canada has been performing well in the Gold Cup. They crushed Honduras 6-0 and drew 1-1 with Curacao. Their final group match against El Salvador is scheduled for June 24.
The Canadian team seems supportive of Eustaquio's double duty. "We want him to do well in the Club World Cup and we also would welcome him back into the men's run at the Gold Cup," they stated.
For bettors following either tournament, Eustaquio's situation creates an interesting dynamic. Porto's chances of advancing in the Club World Cup look uncertain after their loss to Inter Miami. If they're eliminated, Canada could get a significant boost with their captain joining mid-tournament.
This unique situation highlights the increasing demands on top players in modern football. For fans and bettors alike, tracking Eustaquio's journey between these tournaments adds an extra layer of intrigue to both competitions.
