Men's Soccer Preview
With an exciting crop of young prospects on the rise, the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Soccer Team is well-positioned to qualify for an Olympic Games for the first time since Beijing 2008. The men’s Olympic soccer tournament is a youth tournament. Usually limited to players 23 and under, with three overage players allowed, the Tokyo Games’ postponement to 2021 means the tournament is now for players 24 and under to maintain the restriction of players born on or after Jan. 1, 1997. After narrowly missing qualification for the Olympic Games Rio 2016, the U.S. will look to make its return to the global stage in Tokyo.
The Olympic Games in Tokyo should provide a stage for U.S. Soccer’s pipeline of rising talent. Many Olympic-eligible players have already gained valuable experience with the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team, including Chelsea-based midfielder Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams of Red Bull Leipzig and FC Schalke’s Weston McKennie. They look to form a promising trio for the future of the men’s program.
Former U.S. international player Jason Kreis took the helm as head coach of the Under-23 Men’s National Soccer Team in March 2019. He spent his first year on the job leading the USA through several training camps and international matches in preparation for the Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship. Originally scheduled for March 2020, the tournament has been postponed and will see the USA aim to become one of two teams from Concacaf – the soccer confederation representing North America, Central America and the Caribbean – to qualify for the Tokyo Games.
The USA’s bright outlook stems from international success at the youth level during the last three years. Earlier in 2019, the U.S. became the lone nation to reach the quarterfinals of the last three FIFA Under-20 World Cups. In 2017, the U.S. was one of two nations to reach the quarterfinals of both the U-20 and U-17 World Cups. At these tournaments, the USA has demonstrated its ability to compete with the world’s best and will look to continue that success in Tokyo.
Several of the players that could represent the U.S. at the Tokyo Games have represented the USA at the 2017 and 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cups. Six players each from the 2017 and 2019 rosters have already made their senior U.S. National Team debuts. In the 2019 edition of the tournament, several American players made their mark. Paxton Pomykal put in time as the team’s captain and as a dynamo in the midfield, Sergiño Dest turned heads on the outside and Chris Richards locked down the back line.
Since the age restriction was put in place at the Olympic Games Barcelona 1992, the U.S. has qualified for four of seven tournaments. Two of the most decorated players in program history, Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley, represented the U.S. at the Beijing Games in 2008. The players who represent the U.S. in Tokyo will look to build upon that legacy.
Updated on July 17, 2020. For more information, contact the sport press officer here.