U.S. Men’s Olympic Soccer Team to face Guinea in friendly on March 22
CHICAGO – As the U.S. Men’s Olympic Soccer Team continues preparations for its return to the Olympic Games for the first time since 2008, the USA will face Guinea on Friday, March 22, at Nou Estadi Municipal in Olot, Spain.
The Men’s Olympic Team is an important part of U.S. Soccer’s mission to develop winning teams and it will provide some of the nation’s top young talent the opportunity to compete for a medal and face elite opposition on the world stage this summer. The Men’s Olympic Soccer Tournament is restricted to players under the age of 23, with an allowance for three overage players.
“Ahead of the Olympics, it’s important for us to prepare ourselves against a variety of elite opponents,” said head coach Marko Mitrović. “As one of the best teams in Africa, Guinea will provide a unique challenge and we could very well see them at the Olympics this summer. After the March international window, we’ll have faced teams from four different continents, getting our players experience against opponents at the highest level in this age group from every corner of the globe.”
The Men’s Olympic Team has played four games since its return to action during the October international window. Mitrović has led the squad to two wins, against Mexico and Japan in Phoenix, Ariz., plus a 1-1 draw with Iraq and a hard-fought 1-0 loss to Morocco in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain.
The U.S. qualified for its first Olympic Men’s Football Tournament in 16 years with a dominant performance at the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship. There, the U.S. topped host Honduras 3-0 before a raucous crowd in San Pedro Sula to secure its Olympic berth.
Guinea will face an Asian team in an inter-confederation playoff later this year for the 16th and final Olympic berth. The National Elephants finished fourth at the 2023 AFC U-23 Africa Cup of Nations to secure their playoff spot, falling to Mali in penalty kicks in the third-place match after a narrow 1-0 loss to Egypt in the semifinals. Guinea is hoping to secure its second appearance at the Men’s Olympic Soccer Tournament and first in the modern era after making its debut at Mexico 1968.
