The international break was a much-needed breather for the Columbus Crew, with Columbus losing the team’s Most Valuable Player candidate Lucas Zelarayán for a week or two and only obtaining five out of a possible nine points in its last three matches. However, not every player was on break, as four members of the Crew were on international duty, playing for spots in the World Cup, the African Cup of Nations and in international friendlies.
Defender Miloš Degenek played for Australia, with a chance at automatic World Cup qualification if all went well. Winger Yaw Yeboah was on the bench for Ghana in a winner goes to the World Cup clash against Nigeria.