U.S. Soccer's Olympic Push Begins With Six Senior Call-Ups
Steve Cherundolo named a 23-player roster that includes veterans who have already played for the men's national team.
By Malik Salazar ·
Steve Cherundolo has named the first roster for the United States men's U-23 national team, marking the official start of the qualification campaign for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The squad is set to play friendlies against Scotland and Ukraine in the coming weeks.
The group is experienced. Six players on the 23-man roster have previously been called up to the senior U.S. men's national team. Four of those players earned caps during the international break in September and October. Benjamin Cremaschi, who plays for Parma in Italy, was also part of the 2024 Olympic squad and remains eligible for the 2028 tournament.
Cherundolo's roster features eight players currently based in foreign leagues. This depth reflects the pool of talent available to the coach. The team will begin training at the Arthur M. Blank National Training Center in Carson, California. They will train alongside the senior national team, mirroring a setup used recently by the women's national team.
This shared training facility allows both Cherundolo and senior coach Mauricio Pochettino to evaluate the players. The arrangement creates a pathway for movement between the two squads. Given the young age of the senior team, shifts in personnel between the U-23 and senior groups are possible as the 2028 cycle progresses.
Cherundolo described the group as talented and polished. He said the team is eager to establish an identity and build a foundation for the future. The upcoming matches against Scotland and Ukraine will serve as the first competitive test under his leadership.
The roster includes goalkeepers Julian Eyestone, Duran Ferree, and Andrew Rick. Defenders Luca Bombino, Robert Deziel Jr., Tate Johnson, Ethan Kohler, Drew Murray, Nolan Norris, Frankie Westfield, and Joshua Wynder round out the back line. Midfielders Snyder Brunell, Matthew Corcoran, Benjamin Cremaschi, Taha Habroune, Brooklyn Raines, and Niko Tsakiris join forwards Cole Campbell, Damion Downs, Sebastian Gomez, Andre Gitau, Marvin Dills, and David Vazquez.
The 2028 Olympic tournament allows for three overage players on the 23-man squad. With competition expected to be tight, the U-23 team must perform at a high level immediately to secure spots for the Games in Los Angeles.
