USMNT soccer legend Tim Howard as he delves into the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic soccer competition while addressing the challenges faced by U.S. Soccer on the Olympic stage.
Nashville defender Walker Zimmerman was the only overage player selected Wednesday for the United States' 25-man training camp roster ahead of its final pre-Olympic friendly, against Japan on June 11 at Kansas City, Kansas.
“We identified that that would be at a position of need for us, where we would like to bring an overage player,” coach Marko Mitrovic said. “I met Walker, and I was very, very happy with his commitment to go to the Olympic Games.”
The U.S. qualified for its first men’s Olympic soccer tournament since 2008 and will open against host France on July 24 and play New Zealand three days later, both at Marseille, then finish the first round on July 30 against Guinea at Saint-Étienne. Men’s Olympic soccer is limited to players under 23, with each team allowed three players over the age limit on its 18-man roster.
Rosters of two goalkeepers and 16 outfield players must be submitted by July 3, and each team will designate up to four standbys, including one goalkeeper.
Zimmerman, 31, has 42 international appearances and played for the U.S. at the 2022 World Cup.
“He’s a leader and captain-type player,” national team assistant coach B.J. Callaghan said. “He can transcend our identity into that group.”
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Nineteen of the 25 players picked by Mitrovic have appeared for the senior national team, including defender Bryan Reynolds, midfielders Gianluca Busio and Tanner Tessmann, and forwards Paxten Aaronson, Cade Cowell and Kevin Paredes.
Forward Damion Downs, who made his Bundesliga debut with Cologne last season, was included and the German-American could make his U.S. program debut.
Ten players are from Major League Soccer.
Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson, who will be with the national team at its pre-Copa América training camp, is another possibility for the Olympic team.
“There is (a) possibility for some guys to play both America and Olympic Games,” Mitrovic said.
Among the omissions were Chicago goalkeeper Chris Brady, Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna and Dallas winger Bernard Kamungo.
The roster:
Goalkeepers: Patrick Schulte (Columbus), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea, England).
Defenders: Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy), Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo, Belgium), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls), Jonathan Tomkinson (Norwich, England), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville).
Midfielders: Cole Bassett (Colorado), Gianluca Busio (Venezia, Italy), Benjamin Cremaschi (Miami), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia), Aidan Morris (Columbus), Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split, Croatia), Tanner Tessmann (Venezia, Italy).
Forwards: Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Esmir Bajraktarevic (New England), Taylor Booth (Utrecht, Netherlands), Cade Cowell (Guadalajara, Mexico), Damion Downs (Cologne, Germany), Johan Gomez (Eintracht Braunschweig, Germany), Duncan McGuire (Orlando), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg, Germany), Griffin Yow (Westerlo, Belgium).
