The U.S. men’s under-23 national team was drawn into Group A in the 2024 Olympics, where it will face the host nation France, New Zealand and the winner of an intercontinental playoff between a team from the Asian Football Confederation and Guinea in the group stage.
The draw offers the U.S. a marquee occasion with a place in the opening game of the tournament, where it will meet a familiar face on the sideline. Legendary striker Thierry Henry, who played and coached in MLS after a successful European career, will lead France’s team as head coach at the tournament. Henry also appears on CBS Sports’ coverage of the UEFA Champions League.
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Unlike the FIFA World Cup, the men’s Olympic soccer tournament functions as a U-23 competition, through three over-age players are allowed on each 18-man squad.
The U.S. appearance in the men’s soccer tournament at the Olympics will be its first since 2008.
How was the draw done?
Rather than using FIFA’s rankings as is tradition in World Cups and continental tournaments, the pots used for the Olympic draw were determined by nations’ past performances in the Games. The ranking system is based on the total number of points obtained in the last five editions of the men’s Olympic football tournament (three points for a win, one point for a draw, no points for a loss) covering the 2020, 2016, 2012, 2008 and 2004 Olympics. As a result, the United States’ fourth-place finish in 2000 — the best in program history — had no impact on where the team fell in the ranking.
The United States was in Pot 3 for the draw, alongside Egypt, Mali, and the third-ranked qualifier from Asia (to be determined in May). The draw presented some potentially tricky opponents: namely, France and Argentina in Pot 1, and Spain and Morocco (won CAF) in Pot 2.
As the draw for Pot 3 began, the United States caught a break when the first-drawn side, an as-yet undetermined third-place finisher in AFC’s qualifying, was unable to be drawn into Group A. As a result, that team was assigned to Group B — the strongest group through the first two rounds boasting Argentina and Morocco.
Rather than facing a pair of programs coming off of top-four finishes at the 2022 World Cup, the USA was drawn into Group A. Along with host nation France, the United States joined New Zealand — which reached the quarterfinal in the Tokyo Olympics — and whichever side wins an intercontinental playoff between Guinea and the fourth-place finisher in AFC qualifying.
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Who are the USMNT’s opponents?
New Zealand breezed through Oceania qualifying in August and September. They won their opener over Papua New Guinea after their opponent forfeited, then beat Fiji, Vanuatu, and Fiji (a second time) by a combined 20-1 margin. Many players on their roster play in their domestic league, although 21-year-old forward Jesse Randall lines up for USL Championship side Charleston Battery.
France boasts one of the best youth development pipelines in the world these days, and should field plenty of promising players under Henry’s management. Among them are Nice midfielder Khéphren Thuram, Lyon forward Rayan Cherki, PSG forward Bradley Barcola and Chelsea wing back Malo Gusto.
The United States has a pool of players playing regular minutes for senior clubs, both in MLS and abroad. Among the most likely players to be included are former FC Dallas homegrown Bryan Reynolds, New York Red Bulls defender John Tolkin, Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Paxten Aaronson (on loan with Vitesse), and Real Salt Lake playmaker Diego Luna.
What has the reaction been like?
U.S> U-23 head coach Marko Mitrović fielded questions from the media the team’s ongoing camp in Spain, where the United States will face Guinea — who could be the fourth team in Group B if they beat an AFC opponent in the playoff — and France, who will be their first opponent in the tournament.
Mitrović joked that if they win these friendlies, he will petition the Olympics to honor those results and give the United States those points.
Monday’s game against France will come with far less fanfare than what will be expected when the same teams connect to open the men’s soccer portion of the Olympics on July 24. Still, Mitrović didn’t seem fazed by how the draw shook out.
“When you play a guest host theme, it might be like a little bit different experience,” Mitrović said. “We are playing the first game against them. It’s in Marseille, I probably assume it’s going to be a sold-out stadium with — I think Vélodrome Stadium is like 70,000 people (note: 67,000), but it is what it is. We just see them as all other teams in our group.”
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As for the impending roster decisions, Mitrović touted a “big pool of players that we are following” for potential inclusion. He stressed that he wants to bring “the best 18 players” he can, and didn’t show his hand yet about areas where he feels he can sacrifice depth given the squad limitations of an Olympic tournament.
Two players called into this March camp, Kevin Paredes and Paxten Aaronson, figure to also be in contention for Gregg Berhalter’s roster for this summer’s Copa América. That senior tournament will conclude before the start of the Olympics, and Mitrović didn’t allude to whether or not inclusion in the first competition will keep a player from being selected for the Olympics.
“I think something that I’ve learned in soccer: it’s very difficult to predict things,” Mitrović said. “I think down the road, it will be more clear, what’s going to be their future in the summer and where they’re gonna end up (between Copa and Olympics).”
Ultimately, however, Mitrović left Wednesday’s draw feeling confident that his team can not just advance from Group A, but contend for a medal.
“First, I believe we have enough talent to compete,” Mitrović said. “That’s the starting point. The second thing, the commitment that players have, is also something that is very, very appreciated from the whole staff. And then the excitement, actually, that we have to go to the Olympic Games and the positive vibes. That makes us, I would say, confident, but also I believe we’re going to be ready for the challenges ahead of us in the Olympic Games.”
Full Olympic men’s tournament draw results:
Group A
- France
- USA
- ICP AFC-CAF
- New Zealand (pot 2)
Group B
- Argentina
- Morocco
- AFC 3
- Ukraine
Group C
- AFC 2
- Spain
- Egypt
- Dominican Republic
Group D
- AFC 1
- Paraguay
- Mali
- Israel
This story will be updated.
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