The United States men’s national soccer team has qualified for the Olympics, and will be competing at Paris in 2024. They defeated Honduras 3-0 in the semi-finals of the 2022 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship to punch their ticket to the French capital in two year’s time.
The US had been unable to qualify for the tournament since 2008, and four editions later, have confirmed their return. They only needed to qualify for the finals of the U-20 Championship, since the last two teams received automatic qualification for the Olympics.
United States qualify for 2024 Olympics
18-year-old Paxten Aaronson, who plays as a midfielder for Philadelphia Union, opened the scoring for his team. He is the brother of Leeds United’s new signing Brendan Aaronson, and scored in the third minute to cap a perfect start.
Alejandro Alvarado doubled the lead in the 23rd minute, followed by a strike from Quinn Sullivan, who also plays for Philadelphia Union. The United States were 3-0 up before half time, and were confident enough to keep a clean sheet by holding on until the final whistle.
They have been unlucky in their recent attempts to qualify for the Olympics, but have made it happen this time around. The Olympics is open to players under the age of 23, but each team is allowed three players over the age limit. Clubs refusing to make their players available has led to increasing difficulties for the national side in recent years, but having shifted qualification to the U-20s, they have finally made it happen once again.
