United States men's national under-23 soccer team explained

United States Olympic
Badge:
Nickname:Team USA[1]
The Stars and Stripes[2]
The Yanks
Association:United States Soccer Federation
Confederation:CONCACAF
Coach:Marko Mitrović
Captain:Tanner Tessmann
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First Game: 1–2
(Barcelona, Spain; July 24, 1992)
Largest Win: 6–0
(Nashville, United States; March 22, 2012)
Largest Loss: 4–0
(Guadalajara, Mexico; February 10, 2004)
4–0
(Paris, France; August 2, 2024)
Regional Name:Olympic Games
Regional Cup Apps:5
Regional Cup First:1992
Regional Cup Best:Fourth place (2000)
2Ndregional Name:Pan American Games
2Ndregional Cup Apps:1
2Ndregional Cup First:1999
2Ndregional Cup Best: Bronze (1999)
American:true

The United States U-23 men's national soccer team, also known as the United States men's Olympic soccer team, is a youth soccer team operated under the auspices of U.S. Soccer. Its primary role is qualification into and competition at the quadrennial Olympic Football Tournament, with the next one to be held during the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, which the team has already qualified for as hosts.

Its most recent major tournament was the 2024 edition at the Paris Olympics, in which the team made it to the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Morocco.

In accordance with FIFA regulations, the roster can be augmented with three "overage" players during Olympic competition.

History

Men's Olympic soccer became an under-23 competition for the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. In the group stage, the Americans defeated Kuwait but lost to Italy and only managed a draw with Poland. As a result, they were eliminated in the first round. Several U.S. players on the roster, however, would go on to have a major influence with the United States men's national soccer team in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, which the United States would host.

The 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia would be the first time that teams could add overage players to their rosters. Being the host nation and with Major League Soccer in the middle of its inaugural season, the USSF tapped then-D.C. United head coach Bruce Arena to manage the Olympic team. They would fall short again, however, as a loss to eventual-silver medalists Argentina offset a win against Tunisia and a draw with Portugal.

The 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia marked a significant turnaround in the fortunes of the team. This time, the United States, led by head coach Clive Charles, won their group on goal difference on the strength of draws with the Czech Republic and eventual-gold medalists Cameroon and a win over Kuwait. A tense quarterfinal match against Japan ended in a penalty shoot-out which the United States won. Losses to Spain in the semifinals and Chile in the bronze medal match left the Americans short of medal dreams, but the fourth-place finish in a sixteen-team tournament was the program's greatest youth team.

The team did not compete at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece; the United States, led by head coach Glenn Myernick, failed to qualify after a defeat to Mexico in the semifinals of the 2004 CONCACAF Men's Pre-Olympic Tournament.

In late 2006, former Chivas USA head coach Bob Bradley was given the reins to both the senior national team and under-23 national team. His tenure would be brief as his elevation to full-time head coach of the senior team would result in him handing control of the under-23 team to his assistant head coach, Piotr Nowak. Under Nowak, the United States qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics after a 3–0 win over Canada in the 2008 CONCACAF Men's Pre-Olympic Tournament, thanks to goals by Freddy Adu and Sacha Kljestan. The Olympics began promisingly; the Americans defeated Japan and led Holland late. However, a stoppage time goal equalized for the Dutch, and the Americans followed up with a loss to Nigeria.

Under the leadership of new coach Caleb Porter in the 2012 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the Americans defeated Cuba but were then beaten by Canada and surrendered a late lead against El Salvador, causing them to miss the Olympics for the second time in three tournaments.

Coaches

Recent schedule and results

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

2024

Players

Current squad

The following 18 players were named for the 2024 Olympics.[4] On July 30, 2024, Josh Atencio replaced Gianluca Busio due to injury.[5]

Caps and goals are updated as of August 2, 2024, after the match against Morocco.

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months.

Notes:

Overage players in Olympic Games

TournamentPlayer 1Player 2Player 3
Kasey Keller (GK)Alexi Lalas (DF)did not select
Brad Friedel (GK)Jeff Agoos (DF)Frankie Hejduk (MF)
Brad Guzan (GK)Michael Parkhurst (DF)Brian McBride (FW)
Walker Zimmerman (DF)Miles Robinson (DF)Djordje Mihailovic (MF)

Honors

Top goalscorers

RankPlayerYear(s)U-23 Goals
1Steve Snow199210
2Landon Donovan2000–20049
3Jordan Morris2014–20167
4Jerome Kiesewetter2011–20156
Brent Goulet19886
6Freddy Adu2008–20125
7Joe Corona20124
Luis Gil2011–20164
Bobby Convey20044
Sacha Kljestan2007–20084
Alecko Eskandarian2002–20044
Chris Albright20004
Mike Seerey19724
Carl Gentile19644

Competitive record

Olympic Games

Summer Olympics recordQualification recordManager
YearResultSquad
Through 1988See United States men's national soccer team1988 Pre-Olympic TournamentOsiander
1992Group stage9th311165Squad65011710
1996Group stage10th311144SquadQualified as hostsArena
2000Fourth place4th6132911Squad421182Charles
2004Did not qualify5311117Myernick
2008Group stage9th311144Squad531161Nowak
2012Did not qualify311195Porter
20165401154Herzog
2020420263Kreis
2024Quarter-finals8th420278Squad7610312Mitrović
2028Qualified as hostsQualified as hostsrowspan="2"
2032colspan="6"
Total19667303239235810334

Pan American Games

Pan American Games recordQualification RecordManager
YearResultSquad
Through 1995See United States men's national under-20 soccer teamQualified automaticallyLiekoski
1999Bronze medal3rd631268SquadCharles
2003Did not enterDid not enterMyernick
2007See United States men's national under-18 soccer teamQualified automaticallyBradley
2011Did not enterDid not enterPorter
2015Herzog
2019Kreis
2023See United States men's national under-19 soccer team2022 U-20 ChampionshipMitrović
2027
Total631268

Pre-Olympic Tournament

Olympic Qualifying Championship resultsQualificationManager
YearResultSquad
Through 1988See United States men's national soccer teamSee United States men's national soccer teamOsiander
1992Champions1st65011710Squad4310182
1996Qualified as hostsNo qualificationArena
2000Runners-up2nd421182SquadQualified automaticallyCharles
2004Fourth place4th53111111Squad2200100Myernick
2008Runners-up2nd531162SquadQualified automaticallyNowak
2012Group stage5th311195SquadPorter
2015Third place3rd5401154SquadHerzog
2020Third place3rd420263SquadKreis
Total32204872376510282

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Your comments on Team USA's win over Algeria and advancing to knockout round . Nj.com . June 24, 2010 . August 18, 2016 . March 4, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304210549/http://www.nj.com/soccer-news/index.ssf/2010/06/your_comments_on_team_usas_win.html . live .
  2. News: USA 1–2 Ghana . London . The Guardian . Paul . Wilson . June 26, 2010 . December 13, 2016 . December 25, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225135552/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jun/26/usa-ghana-world-cup-2010 . live .
  3. Web site: Marko Mitrović Named Head Coach of U.S. Under-23 Men's Youth National Team and Michael Nsien Named Head Coach of U.S. Under-19 Men's Youth National Team . September 6, 2023 . www.USSoccer.com . United States Soccer Federation . October 8, 2023 . September 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230906214111/https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2023/09/marko-mitrovic-named-head-coach-u23-mynt-michael-nsien-named-head-coach-u19-mynt . live .
  4. Web site: Marko MItrović names 2024 U.S. Olympic Men's Soccer Team . ussoccer.com . July 8, 2024 . July 8, 2024.
  5. Web site: USA VS. Guinea: Starting XI & Lineup notes . July 30, 2024 . USSF . July 31, 2024.
  6. Web site: TWENTY-FIVE PLAYERS CALLED TO U.S. MEN'S OLYMPIC SOCCER TEAM FOR FINAL PRE-OLYMPIC TRAINING CAMP AND MATCH AGAINST JAPAN IN KANSAS CITY . ussoccer.com . May 29, 2024 . June 5, 2024.
  7. Web site: Twenty-two players called to U.S. Men's Olympic Soccer team for matches vs. Guinea and France as prep for Paris 2024 continues . ussoccer.com . March 15, 2024 . March 15, 2024.
  8. Web site: Goalkeeper Chris Brady added to U.S. Men's Olympic Team Roster for matches against Guinea and France . March 18, 2024 . USSoccer.com . United States Soccer Federation . March 18, 2024.
  9. Web site: Twenty players called to U.S. Men's Olympic Soceer Team for matches vs. Iraq and Morocco as Paris 2024 prep continues . ussoccer.com . November 13, 2023 . November 13, 2023 . November 13, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231113203429/https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2023/11/twenty-players-called-to-us-mens-olympic-soccer-team-vs-iraq-morocco-paris-2024-prep-continues . live .
  10. Web site: Twenty-three Players Called to U.s. Olympic Men's Soccer Team Training Camp as Preparations for Paris 2024 Kick Off in Phoenix . ussoccer.com . October 8, 2023 . October 8, 2023 . October 9, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231009110913/https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2023/10/23-players-called-to-us-olympic-mens-soccer-team-training-camp . live .