Zimmerman, Downs on USMNT Olympic camp roster

U.S. under-23 national team coach Marko Mitrović has called in veteran center back Walker Zimmerman as an overage player, as well as four new faces for a camp and friendly ahead of this summer’s Olympic Games in France.

The Olympic squad newcomers also include Chelsea goalkeeper Gaga Slonina, FC Köln forward Damion Downs, Hajduk Split midfielder Rokas Pukstas and LA Galaxy center back Jalen Neal. They join stalwarts Bryan Reynolds, John Tolkin, Gianluca Busio, Jack McGlynn and Tanner Tessmann in the squad.

The U.S. men’s team will compete in the Olympics for the first time since 2008 this summer, and with the Copa America occurring earlier in the year it has opened up big opportunities for young players trying to break into the senior squad. The men’s Olympic tournament 18-player roster is restricted to players under the age of 23, with an allowance for three overage players among that group.

Zimmerman, who has 42 caps with the USMNT and started three games at the 2022 World Cup, is the first overage player summoned by Mitrović in preparation for the tournament.

The U.S. under-23s will face Japan on June 11 at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City at 8 p.m. ET.

Who are the newcomers?

Striker didn’t figure to be a weak point of this under-23 pool, with Duncan McGuire and Ricardo Pepi projected to lead the line in Paris. However, Pepi was instead called in for Gregg Berhalter’s squad at the upcoming Copa América, opening the door for Damion Downs. The 19-year-old stands a towering 6-foot-4 and scored twice in 181 Bundesliga minutes for FC Köln. Downs holds dual citizenship between the U.S. and Germany, and has previously been called in to a U.S. U-20 national team camp.

His first Bundesliga goal showed that he won’t just be a one-trick aerial threat, as he ran onto a low through ball and neatly placed a finish to the far post with his left foot to give Köln a late equalizer against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Once Pepi was called into the senior team, it seems as though an overage striker may be needed. However, Downs’ late season emergence could instead make him a natural alternative to McGuire, who’s more experienced at the club level and has been part of the under-23 program throughout Mitrović’s tenure. While some players would struggle with a squad role, Downs may benefit from a tournament as the team’s ‘Plan B’ striker, although he may prove himself to be a better fit up top in this camp and beyond.

Jalen Neal is among the brightest defensive prospects in the USMNT pool, having earned a regular starting role with the LA Galaxy last season at age 19. A pair of surgeries (for a sports hernia and an adductor strain) kept him out of the first third of the 2024 season, but he’s worked his way back into Greg Vanney’s lineup in recent weeks. Neal has earned six senior caps and was part of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup roster, and could work into a complex senior CB pool with a strong year.

Born in Stillwater, OK, Rokas Pukštas initially developed in Sporting Kansas City’s academy before signing with Croatian side Hajduk Split in late 2020. He became a regular starter in short order, with Hajduk finishing 3rd in the Croatian Football League this season. Pukštas offers an impressive scoring threat in an attacking midfield role, averaging almost two shots per game and managing eight goals in 2,435. The son of a Lithuanian marathon runner, Pukštas could become a second-generation Olympian if he makes this roster.

Gaga Slonina has long been expected to start at this tournament, since his breakout performances with the Chicago Fire in 2022 and especially after moving to Chelsea late that year. His first year in Europe was a loan with Belgian side Eupen, which finished last in the Pro League with the circuit’s most porous defensive record, thusly being relegated at season’s end. – Jeff Rueter

Who else could join?

The U.S. will be able to add three overage players for the tournament in France this summer, and Mitrović will not be short of options — though club teams must be willing to release players, as it’s not required by FIFA.

Zimmerman, who has captained the USMNT before, is a clear choice to shore up the back line, but Mitrović could go back to the depth chart to add another veteran center back to this team. Options there include Auston Trusty and Mark McKenzie.

The U.S. could also look to add another overage player at the forward position. Even with U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter seemingly bringing four forwards to the Copa America, there could be room to add someone like Brandon Vazquez or even Pepi, who would not require an overage spot. Club America winger Alejandro Zendejas, 26, could also be an option for this roster.

Ultimately, a lot of these decisions will come down to whether a club is willing to release a player or not. With a stacked midfield of age-eligible players, however, it’s more likely you’ll see overage additions on the back and forward lines. – Paul Tenorio

GO DEEPER

Your USMNT roster questions answered

Full under-23 squad for June Olympic training camp

GOALKEEPERS (2): Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea)

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 FC), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Cole Bassett (Colorado Rapids), Gianluca Busio (Venezia), Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF), 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)

(Photo: Federico Gambarini/picture alliance via Getty Images)