USA vs. Morocco: Starting XI & Lineup Notes

LINEUP NOTES
U.S. Olympic Men’s Soccer Team vs. Guinea
2024 Olympic Men’s Soccer Tournament Quarterfinal – Match No. 26
Aug. 2, 2024
Parc des Princes; Paris, France
Kickoff: 9 a.m. ET on USA Network, Peacock and Telemundo
Social Media: @USYNT on X and Instagram; U.S. Soccer on Facebook, the U.S. Soccer App

Tonight’s U.S. Olympic Men’s Soccer Team Starting XI vs. Morocco: 1-Patrick Schulte, 2-Nathan Harriel, 3-Walker Zimmerman, 5-John Tolkin, 7-Kevin Paredes, 8-Tanner Tessmann (Capt.), 9-Griffin Yow, 11-Paxten Aaronson, 12-Miles Robinson, 14-Djordje Mihailovic, 16-Jack McGlynn

Substitutes: 18-Gaga Slonina, 4-Maximilian Dietz, 10-Taylor Booth, 13-Duncan McGuire, 15-Benjamin Cremaschi, 17-Caleb Wiley, 21-Josh Atencio

GAME NOTES

• Head coach Marko Mitrović makes one change from the XI that started the USA’s 3-0 victory vs. Guinea on Tuesday night as Jack McGlynn replaces Maximilian Dietz in the midfield for his first start of the Olympics.
• Midfielder Gianluca Busio (leg injury) is unavailable for the match against Morocco and remains replaced on the 18-player roster by alternate Josh Atencio. Busio may be re-inserted into the 18-man squad once his medical condition allows.
• Starting XI Under-23 cap numbers (including this match): Tessmann (14), Mihailovic (13), Harriel (11), McGlynn (11), Tolkin (11), Aaronson (9), Zimmerman (8), Schulte (7), Yow (7), Paredes (6), Robinson (6).
• Starting XI senior U.S. Men’s National Team cap numbers: Zimmerman (42), Robinson (29), Mihailovic (11), Tolkin (4), Paredes (3), Tessmann (2), Aaronson (1), McGlynn (1), Schulte (1), Harriel (0), Yow (0).
• Back in the knockout stage for the first time since Sydney 2000, the USA is seeking its first semifinal berth since it took fourth place in that tournament, its best Olympic finish.
• It’s the U.S. Men’s second time advancing from the group stage since it was introduced in 1960 and third time in the quarterfinals all-time, dating back to Paris 1924.
• Tessmann captains the squad tonight, his ninth time wearing the armband over this cycle’s 11 games. He’s served as captain in every match for the Olympic Men’s Soccer Team since Nov. 18 vs. Iraq.
• The Olympic Men’s Soccer Tournament is restricted to players under the age of 23, with an allowance for three overage players. All three U.S. overage players start tonight: Djordje Mihailovic (25 years old), Miles Robinson (27) and Walker Zimmerman (31).
• Of the USA’s 11 overage players since the rule was introduced for Atlanta 1996, Zimmerman (42 caps) ranks as the fifth-most experienced player at the senior level, behind Jeff Agoos (101 caps before Sydney 2000), Brian McBride (95, Beijing 2008), Alexi Lalas (69, Atlanta 1996) and Brad Freidel (66, Sydney 2000).
• All 11 players in the Starting XI have played in Major League Soccer or developed in a MLS academy. In addition to current MLS clubs, members of the squad also spent time with the following MLS or MLS Next outfits: Aaronson (Philadelphia Union), Harriel (Chargers SC), McGlynn (BW Gottschee), Mihailovic (Chicago Fire FC, CF Montreal), Paredes (D.C. United, Bethesda SC), Robinson (Atlanta United FC, FC Greater Boston Bolts), Tessmann (FC Dallas), Yow (D.C. United) and Zimmerman (FC Dallas, LAFC).
• Miles Robinson and Walker Zimmerman pair together in central defense for the 13th time. They’ve compiled a 9-2-1 record playing alongside each other nine times for the senior USMNT and three times thus far at the Olympics. All USMNT matches came in official competition (2021 Concacaf Gold Cup and 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying).
• This is the second meeting between the U.S. and Morocco at the Olympics following a 0-0 draw in the group stage at Munich 1972.
• The U.S. earned its first win against an African opponent in the Olympics on Tuesday night with its 3-0 victory vs. Guinea.
• Yael Falcon of Argentina is the referee for tonight’s match. He officiated the USA’s opening match vs. France and has previously served as an official at the 2024 Copa America, the CONMEBOL Olympic qualifying tournament and the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.