Over the next two weeks, Orlando City’s Benji Michel and Andrés Perea, along with 18 other young American stars, will attempt to bring the United States Men’s National Team to this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. But how can they qualify? What will they have to accomplish? Here’s everything you need to know:
Background
In men’s soccer, the Summer Olympics are a U-23 competition, meaning only players 23 and under on December 31 of the competition year are eligible to compete, with the exception of three “overage” players allowed during the Olympics proper (but not during qualifying). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic postponing the games by a year, players who would have been eligible in 2020 are still eligible in 2021 even if they have aged out in that time.
Most of the US’s brightest stars would fit the age requirement, including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, and Orlando City’s own Daryl Dike. But clubs are not required to release players for U-23 competitions, so most of the European-based players were unavailable for qualifying, as their seasons are ongoing. 16 of the 20 players on the qualifying roster play in MLS.
Qualifying
Reaching the Olympics is far from a given–in fact, the United States has missed out on trips to London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016 over the past decade. Their last trip to the Olympics came in 2008 in Beijing, where they finished third in their group behind Nigeria and the Netherlands (fun fact: former Lion Sacha Kljestan scored two of the Americans’ four goals in the tournament).
In order to make it to Tokyo, the United States must finish in the top two of Group A, which includes fellow CONCACAF powers Mexico and Costa Rica along with the Dominican Republic. If they succeed in this aim, they will move on to play a team from Group B, consisting of Canada, Haiti, Honduras, and El Salvador, with the winner attaining one of the two CONCACAF berths in the Olympic field.
All games will be played at either the Estadio Jalisco or the Estadio Akron in Mexico.
Game 1: Costa Rica, Thursday, March 18 (5:30 p.m. ET, FS1/TUDN)
Despite being first, this could be the biggest game of the tournament for both sides. Mexico will be favorites to advance, meaning the United States and Costa Rica could be going head to head for the second coveted knockout spot.
The Costa Ricans disappointed massively in qualifying for Rio 2016, finishing last in their group and conceding seven goals while scoring only one. A new crop of youngsters from one of CONCACAF’s toughest sides will look to redeem their elder countrymen.
Game 2: Dominican Republic, Sunday, March 21 (7 p.m. ET, FS1/TUDN)
The United States essentially has to have this one. The Dominican Republic is playing in its first-ever Olympic qualifying tournament, having defeated Saint Kitts and Nevis in a do-or-die playoff to reach the final eight nations in the field.
The USMNT will be heavily favored in this game, and anything but a victory would put the Americans in a deep hole, especially if they fail to defeat Costa Rica. This is CONCACAF, after all, and wild things are known to happen.
Game 3: Mexico, Wednesday, March 24 (9:30 p.m. ET, FS1/TUDN)
The main event. If the USMNT wins their first two games, they will be favored to advance no matter the result here, but should they need a result, it’s going to be an uphill climb.
Mexico famously won the gold medal at the London 2012 games, defeating a Brazil team in the final that included Neymar, Marcelo, Thiago Silva and Orlando City’s Alexandre Pato. This year’s Mexican contingent includes headliners like Chivas striker J.J. Macias and Cruz Azul attacking midfielder Roberto Alvarado. The Americans will have to bring everything they have to take down Mexico, especially considering El Tri will have home field advantage.
Can Michel, Perea and the rest of the United States U-23s see the red, white and blue into the Olympics for the first time in over a decade? Follow along with us over the next two weeks on Orlando City social media platforms.
