No nation has been more successful in Olympic history than the United States. The stars and stripes have taken home 2,667 modern Olympic medals. However, that level of greatness currently eludes men’s soccer: the US men’s national team has never won a modern Olympic medal.
But the 2024 Olympic team wants to change that. In a virtual press conference on July 22 with Columbus Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte and Colorado Rapids midfielder Đorđe Mihailović, Schulte made it clear that the team is aiming high.
“The collective goal is to win a gold medal,” Schulte said.
Although the women’s team has had great success on the Olympic stage, the men have not participated in the Olympics since 2008. Due to International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) regulations, men’s teams are only allowed to play their under-23 teams at the Olympics, while bringing three over-23 players, giving young up-and-coming talents a chance to shine on the big stage.
Mihailović is one of those overage players. During the last qualifying cycle, he was playing for the U23 team when it failed to qualify. These Olympics could be his redemption.
“Four years ago, my age group failed [to qualify], I’ve said this quite a bit, you rarely get a second chance at a dream, and I’m very lucky to have that second chance here,” Mihailović said.
While the Olympics is taking place, US Soccer is faced with the daunting task of finding a new manager for the senior team, after former head coach Gregg Berhalter was fired after a disappointing Copa America group stage exit. But whoever takes over will certainly watch these Olympic matches. Every player has something to play for in this tournament; since this is only the U23 team, high quality performances at this Olympics could catch the attention of the next senior head coach
“The youth tournaments are supposed to be pipelines to the senior team,” Mihailović said. “If you do well in this tournament, there is a future manager watching.”
Mihailović also mentioned that even though the players are thinking about their future, the focus is on the games coming up.
“It’s also focusing on the now and the task here and that is to win a gold medal,” Mihailović said.
The US team opens against France, one of the pre-tournament favorites and host, on Wednesday, July 24. The team is managed by France and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry.
Neither Schulte nor Mihailović saw that as an obstacle, but rather an opportunity. Schulte saw it as a chance to “test how good we are.”
“We kind of have an opportunity to make a statement and show who we are and what we’re about,” Schulte said.
France has one men’s soccer Olympic gold medal but is widely regarded as one of the best footballing nations in the world, having won two World Cups. It has produced some of the best players in football history, with stars such as Zinedine Zidane, Kylian Mbappé, and Patrick Vieira.
“For us to go up against them in the opening game is an honor,” Mihailović said. “We know the world is going to be watching, we know that it’s an opportunity to show Americans – as well as the rest of the world – how good of a team we are.”
After France, the United States takes on New Zealand on July 27 and closes out the group against Guinea on July 30. If the USMNT finishes top two in its group, it will advance to the knockout stages, with the quarterfinals being set to start Aug. 2.
–July 23, 2024–
