U.S. Men’s Olympic Soccer Team roster selected for March friendlies in Europe
CHICAGO – U.S. Men’s Olympic Soccer Team head coach Marko Mitrović has called 22 players to training camp in Spain and France as the USA continues its preparations for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
The U.S. will face Guinea on Friday, March 22 in Olot, Spain and France on March 25 in Montbeliard. Both matches will be streamed on U.S. Soccer digital platforms.
This summer marks the return of the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team to the Games for the first time since 2008. The Men’s Olympic Soccer Tournament is restricted to players under the age of 23, with an allowance for three overage players. The Men’s Olympic Soccer Team is as an important part of the Federation’s mission to develop winning teams as it will provide some of the nation’s top young talent the opportunity to face elite opposition on the world stage next summer.
Fifteen players on the roster have been capped by the U.S. Men’s National Team, led by midfielder Gianluca Busio’s 13 senior international appearances. Eight players were a part of the USMNT’s January training camp at which five earned their senior international debuts.
U.S. MEN’S OLYMPIC SOCCER TEAM – MARCH TRAINING CAMP – SPAIN & FRANCE
GOALKEEPERS (2): Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; St. Charles, Mo.), Gabriel Slonina (KAS Eupen/BEL; Addison, Ill.)
DEFENDERS (7): George Campbell (Montreal Impact; Atlanta, Ga.), Maximilian Dietz (Greuther Furth/GER; Frankfurt, Germany), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union; Oldsmar, Fla.), Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo/BEL; Fort Worth, Texas), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; Chatham, N.J.), Jonathan Tomkinson (Bradford City/ENG; Plano, Texas), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United FC; Atlanta, Ga.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Paxten Aaronson (Vitesse/NED; Medford, N.J.), Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; Greensboro, N.C.), Daniel Edelman (New York Red Bulls; Warren, N.J.), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; Queens, N.Y.), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), Tanner Tessmann (Venezia/ITA; Birmingham, Ala.)
FORWARDS (7): Esmir Bajraktarevic (New England Revolution; Appleton, Wisc.), Cade Cowell (Guadalajara/MEX; Ceres, Calif.), Johan Gomez (Eintracht Braunschweig/GER; Keller, Texas), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Duncan McGuire (Orlando City SC; Omaha, Neb.), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg/GER; South Riding, Va.), Griffin Yow (Westerlo; Clifton, Va.)
Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2001, are age-eligible for the 2024 Olympics. Mitrović selected eight players born in 2001, five born in 2002, six born in 2003, two born in 2004 and one born in 2005, which is forward Esmir Bajraktarevic, who is also eligible for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Ten players have been a part of all three Men’s Olympic Team training camps so far this cycle: defenders Maximilian Dietz, Nathan Harriel, Bryan Reynolds, John Tolkin and Jonathan Tomkinson, midfielders Busio, Jack McGlynn and Tanner Tessmann plus forwards Bajraktarevic and Johan Gomez.
The roster features players from 17 different clubs, including eight from Major League Soccer. Two players each come from the Columbus Crew, Philadelphia Union and New York Red Bulls. Eleven players are based abroad in Germany (three), Belgium, Italy (two each), England Netherlands and Mexico (one each).
STRONG MLS STARTS
The Major League Soccer season kicked off on Feb. 21 and the Olympic squad’s domestic players are already making important contributions for their clubs. In Concacaf Champions Cup play, Bajraktarevic netted his first top-flight professional goal on March 6 vs. Alajuelense while McGlynn teed up a crucial goal for the Philadelphia Union during its 3-3 draw vs. Saprissa on Feb. 27 to clinch his team’s advancement to the Round of 16.
Forward Duncan McGuire has three goals in his first six games across MLS and CCC play, including a brace vs. Minnesota United FC on March 9, while goalkeeper Patrick Schulte has two clean sheets in his first five games across both competitions. Forward Diego Luna added an assist in Real Salt Lake’s snowy 2-1 victory vs. LAFC on March 2.
AMERICANS ABROAD IN FORM
A number of the Olympic squad’s foreign-based players also enter the March international window on a hot streak. Forward Griffin Yow earned his first Olympic call-up after scoring three goals with two assists in nine games since the holiday break, including a spectacular game-winner vs. Standard Liege on Feb. 16. Busio has also netted three goals and added an assist in 10 games since the break, while forward Paxten Aaronson tallied his second Eredivisie goal on March 9 vs. Waalwijk after joining Vitesse on loan in January. Goalkeeper Gaga Slonina has three shutouts in nine games since the holidays.
In Mexico, forward Cade Cowell has made the most of a January move to Liga MX giant Chivas Guadalajara. He’s scored four goals and logged an assist in 13 games played, including one vs. rival Club America on March 13 in Concacaf Champions Cup play.
HOW WE GOT HERE
The U.S. qualified for the 2024 Olympics with a dominant performance at the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship in Honduras, defeating the host nation 3-0 in the tournament semifinals to secure its Olympic berth. Aaronson won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player as well as the Golden Boot as top scorer with seven goals.
