US Soccers US Mens Deaf National Team for Final Camp Before World Championships

CHICAGO (July 23, 2023) – U.S. Deaf Men’s National Team head coach David Kunitz has called in 23 players for the team’s last training camp before the final roster is selected for the 2023 World Championships.

The weeklong camp is taking place at Darlington Academy in Rome, Georgia from July 23-30. The group is led by veteran defender and captain Will Frentz, forward Michael Schmid and midfielder Trip Neil, who is participating in his first camp of 2023, along with 10 others who on the USA’s 2022 Deaflympics roster. The roster also included three players earning their first call up: goalkeeper Mateo Lambertini, defender Kevin Oladimeji and forward Thomas Salvi.

The Deaf MNT is preparing for this fall’s Deaf World Championships, set for Sept. 20-Oct. 8 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

U.S. DEAF MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER – JULY TRAINING CAMP

GOALKEEPER (3): Erik Jaspers (Saratoga Springs, Utah), Mateo Lambertini (Los Angeles, Calif.), Eric Setzer (Middleston, Md.)

DEFENDERS (6): Kevin Fitzpatrick (Hopatcong, N.J.), William Frentz (Goshen, Ky.), Arthur Goncalves (San Carlos, Calif.), Luke Haubruge (San Marcos, Calif.), Kevin Oladimeji (Washington, D.C.), Eddie Perry (Dellwood, Minn.)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Braden Anderson (Boise, Idaho), Dawson Anderson (Boise, Idaho), Christopher Bourdon (San Diego, Calif.), Tate Lancaster (Overland Park, Kan.), Jullian Mitchell (Miami, Fla.), Trip Neil (Dallas, Texas), Raul Silva (San Diego, Calif.)

FORWARDS (7): David Dircio (San Diego, Calif.), Kelly Grant (St. Louis, Mo.), Chad Johnson (Los Angeles, Calif.), JP Kanashiro (Lorton, Va.), Thomas Salvi (Fairfax, Virginia), Michael Schmid (Oberlin, Ohio), Tristan Torbett (Asheville, N.C.)

Debuting at the 1965 Deaflympics on home soil in Washington, D.C., the Men’s Deaf NT took fourth at the 2008 Deaf World Championships for its best-ever finish at a world championship event. The team is finished third in its group at the 2022 Deaflympics, then split two friendlies with England in October at Darlington, winning the first 2-1 before falling 2-0.

Deaf soccer is contested by deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes. Under international criteria, players must have a hearing loss of at least 55 decibels in their better ear. Hearing loss below this level has been shown to negatively impact hearing. All players competing in deaf matches must remove all hearing aids before playing.

For more information on the sport or to inquire about athlete eligibility, please contact U.S. Soccer's Extended National Teams Department via email at extendednt@ussoccer.org.