It will be the first time in nearly 20 years that the U.S. men’s national team will be competing in the Olympics.
U.S. Olympic Team coach Marko Mitrovic’s 25-man player list was released Wednesday ahead of this year’s Summer Olympics in Paris, ending a drought of missing four straight games.
The roster includes 10 players currently with Major League Soccer teams, including several who have attended all four national team training camps so far leading up to the Olympics.
The tournament kicks off even before the opening ceremony, with the first match starting on July 24. The men’s team will score their first point on July 27 (1 p.m. ET) against New Zealand in Group A. It all culminates in the men’s gold medal match on Aug. 9 (noon ET).
Here’s a quick rundown of how it works: Olympic rosters are made up of the best players under the age of 23, but teams can add up to three over-age players to their roster. For those of us born before 2000, this is a harsh reality: the majority of players on the current roster were born after 2001.
What it means for so many of these players to be members of the MLS first team remains to be seen, but it is still impressive that, despite being out of the tournament, virtually half of the current player pool plays in the U.S. Typically, these roster compiles the best American talent playing for teams around the world, especially in Europe.
Final call before the Olympics
June #Olympic Camp Roster
— US Soccer YNT (@USYNT) May 29, 2024
Of the remaining 11 players currently on the roster, only one – forward Cade Cowell – plays outside of Europe or the U.S., currently with Guadalajara in Mexico’s Liga MX, but Cowell is something of an MLS-bred player, having been a standout player for the MLS franchise’s San Jose Earthquakes last season.
This was put together to achieve what the U.S. Soccer Federation prides itself on: its “Federation Mission.” Developing a winning team This summer, it will give the country’s best young players an opportunity to play against top teams on the world stage.”
The U.S. Soccer Federation believes this early-round pool of players gives the U.S. the best chance to bring home a medal. What do you think?
U.S. Olympic Team roster for June friendlies
Current club team players
GoalkeeperPatrick Schulte (Columbus Crew, MLS) Gaga Slonina (Chelsea, EPL)
Defender: Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union, MLS), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy, MLS), Bryan Reynolds (KVC Westerlo, Belgium), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls, MLS), Jonathan Tomkinson (Norwich City, England), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United, MLS), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC, MLS)
Midfielders: Cole Bassett (Colorado Rapids, MLS), Gianluca Busio (Venice, Serie A), Greensboro, North Carolina), Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami, MLS), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union, MLS), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew, MLS), Rocas Pukstas (Hajduk Split, Croatia) and Tanner Tesman (Venice, Serie B).
forward: Pakhten Aaronsson (Eintracht Frankfurt, Bundesliga), Esmir Bayraktarević (New England Revolution, MLS), Taylor Booth (Utrecht, Netherlands), Cade Cowell (Guadalajara, Liga MX), Damion Downs (Cologne, Germany), Johan Gomes (Eintracht Braunschweig, Germany), Duncan Maguire (Orlando City SC, MLS), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg, Bundesliga), Griffin Yeo (KVC Westerlo, Belgium)
