The United States Men’s Olympic Soccer Team has a pivotal friendly tonight against Japan at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City. It marks the final match for the USMNT Olympic Team before the full Olympic roster is named and they head to France for the Olympics next month.
This is the final opportunity for players on this roster to show that they should be a part of the 18 players that make the final roster. And, with so much USMNT experience on this roster, there are going to be some tough decisions. Add to that Walker Zimmerman, who appears to be one of the overage players that Olympic head coach Marko Mitrović will bring to Paris, and the chance to bring up to 3 total overage players, and competition for spots will be fierce. They go up against a Japan team that will also be at the Olympics and have always been a strong team, finishing 4th in 2 of the last 3 Olympic Games.
With the opportunity to watch this match, fans should take advantage of getting to know some of the players that, for the first time since 2008, will compete in the Olympics in men’s football.
Roster
GOALKEEPERS (2): Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea FC)
DEFENDERS (7): Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy), Bryan Reynolds (KVC Westerlo), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls.), Jonathan Tomkinson (Norwich City), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Cole Bassett (Colorado Rapids.), Gianluca Busio (Venezia)*, Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew), Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split), Tanner Tessmann (Venezia)
FORWARDS (9): Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt), Esmir Bajraktarevic (New England Revolution), Taylor Booth (Utrecht), Cade Cowell (Guadalajara), Damion Downs (Köln), Johan Gomez (Eintracht Braunschweig), Duncan McGuire (Orlando City SC), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg), Griffin Yow (KVC Westerlo)
*Gianluca Busio picked up a slight injury in his final match of the season for Venezia and will be held out of the match as a precaution.
Lineups
United States lineup:
Japan lineup:
How to Watch
Advertised Kick-off Time: 8:00pm Eastern, 5:00pm Pacific
Venue: Children’s Mercy Park, Kansas City
Available TV: Universo (Spanish)
Available streaming: YouTube (English), FuboTV (Free Trial)
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