Chicago (March 14, 2024) – As the United States continues to prepare for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, U.S. Men's Olympic Soccer Team Head Coach Marko Mitrovic has called 22 players to training camps in Spain and France. The United States will play Guinea on Friday, March 22nd in Olot, Spain, and France on March 25th in Montbéliard. Both games will be streamed on U.S. Soccer's digital platforms.
This summer, the U.S. Men's Olympic Team will return to the Olympics for the first time since 2008. The men's Olympic soccer tournament is restricted to players under the age of 23, with three overage players allowed to participate. The Olympic men's soccer team is an important part of the federation's mission to develop championship teams, giving the country's top young talent the opportunity to compete against elite opponents on the world stage next summer.
The national roster includes 15 players on the U.S. Men's National Team, led by midfielder Gianluca Busio, who has played in 13 senior international games. Eight players participated in the USMNT's January training camp, with five making their senior national team debuts.
U.S. Men's Olympic Soccer Team – March Training Camp – Spain and France
Goalkeeper (2): Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew, St. Charles, Missouri), Gabriel Slonina (KAS Eupen/BEL, Addison, Illinois)
Defenders (7): George Campbell (Montreal Impact, Atlanta, Georgia), Maximilian Dietz (Greuter Furth/GER, Frankfurt, Germany), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union, Oldsmar, Florida), Brian Reynolds (Westerlo/BEL, Fort Worth, Texas), John Tolkien (New York Red Bulls, Chatham, New Jersey), Jonathan Tomkinson (Bradford City/England, Plano, Texas), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta) United FC, Atlanta, Georgia)
Midfielders (6): Paxten Aaronson (Vitesse/NED; Medford, NJ), Gianluca Busio (Venice/ITA; Greensboro, NJ), Daniel Edelman (New York Red Bulls; Warren, NJ), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; Queens, NY), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew, Fort Lauderdale, FL), Tanner Tessman (Venice/Italy; Birmingham, AL)
Forward (7): Esmil Bajraktarevic (New England Revolution, Appleton, Wis.), Cade Cowell (Guadalajara/Mexico, Ceres, Calif.), Johan Gomez (Eintracht Braunschweig/GER, Keller, Texas), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake, Sunnyvale, CA)), Duncan McGuire (Orlando City SC, Omaha, NE), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER, South Riding, VA), Griffin Yow (Clifton, VA) Westero)
Players born on or after January 1, 2001 Depending on their age, they will be eligible to participate in the 2024 Olympics. Coach Mitrovic is one of eight children born in 2001, five born in 2002, six born in 2003, two born in 2004 and one born in 2005 to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Forward Esmil Bajraktarevic was selected.
So far this cycle, 10 players have participated in all three Men's Olympic Team training camps: defenders Maximilian Dietz, Nathan Harriel, Brian Reynolds, John Tolkien, Jonathan Tomkinson, and midfielders Busio, Jack McGlynn, Tanner Tesman, and forwards Vajraktarevic and Johan Gomez.
The roster features players from 17 different clubs, including eight from Major League Soccer. The team includes two players each from the Columbus Crew, Philadelphia Union, and New York Red Bulls. The 11 players are based overseas in Germany (three), Belgium, Italy (two each), England, the Netherlands and Mexico (one each).
Strong start to MLS
The Major League Soccer season begins on February 21st, and the domestic players on the Olympic team have already made important contributions to their clubs. In the Concacaf Champions Cup, Vajraktarevic scored his first top-flight professional goal against Alajuelense on March 6, while McGlynn scored for the Philadelphia Union in a 3-3 draw against Saprissa on February 27. He scored an important goal and secured promotion for his team. On to the round of 16.
Forward Duncan McGuire has scored three goals in his first six games in MLS and CCC, including two goals against Minnesota United FC on March 9. , goalkeeper Patrick Schulte has recorded two clean sheets in the first five games in both competitions. Forward Diego Luna added an assist in Real Salt Lake's snowy game against LAFC on March 2nd.
Americans formally abroad
Many of the foreign athletes on the Olympic team are in good form and will enter the international slot in March. Forward Griffin Yeo earned his first Olympic call-up with three goals and two assists in nine games since the break, including a stunning win over Standard Liège on February 16. did. Busio also scored three goals and added one assist, while midfielder Paxten Aaronsson scored his second Eredivisie goal against Waalwijk on March 9 after joining Vitesse on loan in January. Goaltender Gaga Slonina has recorded three shutouts in nine games since the break.
In Mexico, forward Cade Cowell made the most of his move to Liga MX powerhouse Chivas Guadalajara in January. He has four goals and one assist in 13 games, including on March 13 against rival Club America in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
How we got here
The United States had a dominant performance at the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship in Honduras, defeating the host nation 3-0 in the tournament semifinals and earning a berth to the 2024 Olympics. Aaronson won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player and the Golden Boot as the top scorer with seven goals.
