(Photo taken by Francisco Avila) (Featured in photo: U.S. Olympics Coach Marko
Mitrovic)
U.S. Men’s Olympics head coach Marko Mitrovic announced his 23-man squad that will head to
Paris for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The U.S. Olympic Men’s Team is returning to the Games this
summer for the first time since 2008. The Olympic Men’s Soccer Tournament is restricted to
players under the age of 23, with each team allowed three overage players on its roster. The
team’s three overage players included defender Walker Zimmerman and Miles Robinson as well
as midfielder Midfielder Djordje Mihailovic. The main talking points of the announced roster
was the cutting of players in Liga Mx while MLS players were included and multiple dual-
nationals who said no to the call for the Olympics leaving the door open for another national side
appearance and switch.
MLS Player chosen while Liga Mx left at home
Once the roster was announced it’s clear to see that home-based players from the MLS and
players playing abroad in Europe were chosen while some influential players like those playing
in Liga Mx were left home.
European based players do possess the experience and higher intensity games and training while
MLS players being chosen over Liga Mx players is a question on many people’s minds. The
MLS players chosen included: goalkeeper Patrick Schulte from Columbus Crew, Defenders
Nathan Harriel from Philadelphia Union, Miles Robinson from FC Cincinnati, John Tolkin from
New York Red Bulls, Caleb Wiley from Atlanta United FC, and Walker Zimmerman from
Nashville SC. Also midfielders Benjamin Cremaschi from Inter Miami CF, Jack McGlynn from
Philadelphia Union, and Djordje Mihailovic from Colorado Rapids. MLS players also included
forwards Duncan McGuire from Orlando City and the alternates made up of midfielder Josh
Atencio from Seattle Sounders and Sporting Kansas City’s defender Jacob Davis and goalkeeper
Josh Pulskamp.
It’s clear that a majority of the roster is MLS based while players with high ceiling and skill in
Monterrey’s Forward Brandon Vasquez, Chivas of Guadalagar’s Forward Cade Cowell, and
America’s Forward Alejandro Zendejas. Players left out of the roster who can provide options on
the bench and speed up front. It’ll be interesting to see if Mitrovic regrets not bringing U.S. talent
playing in Mexico.
Dual-Nat’s said no, leave the door open for Mexico appearance
Apart from leaving multiple Liga Mx players at home, another topic that caused buzz for the
media was the fact that multiple dual national, specifically mexican-americans who had a place
in the squad for the Paris Olympics, said no, leaving the door open for a one-time switch to the
Mexican National Team set up.
The various mexican-american dual-nats who declined included: Real Sociedad, currently
Mirandes on loan defender Jonathan Gomez, Chicago Fire midfielder Brian Gutierrez, and Real
Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna.
It’s no secret that the Mexican side has been struggling with a recent group stage exit from the
Copa America. Recent players confirmed to going to Europe in Cruz Azul’s Rodrigo Huesas and
Uriel Antuna to Copenhague and AEK Athens respectively as well as Pachuca’s Emilio
Rodirguez to Celta de Vigo is sure to be positive and more speculated to depart; however with
the addition of Jonathan Gomez, Brian Gutierrez, and Diego Luna Mexico’s aspirations for a
good performance for the 2026 World Cup would surely be going in the right direction.
What’s Next
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the USMNT will kick off their Olympic return on Wednesday, July
24 against host France in Marseille. The USA will then take on New Zealand on Saturday, July
27 in Marseille and finish the group stage against Guinea on Tuesday, July 30 in Saint-Etienne.
