BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Birmingham Legion FC has announced defenders AJ Paterson and Phanuel Kavita have been called up for international duty in the upcoming week, with Kavita set to return for FIFA World Cup Qualifying with Rwanda and Paterson earning a recall by Grenada for a pair of international exhibitions.

Kavita returns to the Rwanda Men’s National Team for CAF World Cup Qualifying matches against Benin on Friday, October 10 and South Africa on Tuesday, October 14. Rwanda currently sits in fourth place of Group C with 11 points through eight matches. The top team in each of the nine groups advance to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the top four second place teams in each group advancing to a four-team bracket in hopes of securing a CAF’s sole spot in the inter-confederation playoffs.

Having received his first call-up with Rwanda in 2024, this is the third consecutive camp for Kavita, who has earned three total caps, including playing every minute of the country’s two qualifying matches during the September international window.

Paterson will join the Grenada Men’s National Team for a pair of friendlies against the British Virgin Islands on Wednesday, October 8 and Cuba on Saturday, October 11. Coincidentally, the 29-year-old made his international debut against Cuba back in 2018 and has gone on to earn 20 total caps with Grenada with four goals and a pair of assists.

Should Paterson make an appearance next week, it will mark his first cap with Grenada since March of 2023 when he started against the United States in the Concacaf Nations League.