Defender Brandan Craig Added to U.S. Men’s Olympic Soccer Team Roster for Matches against Mexico and Japan in Phoenix
Center Back Played Key Role During USA’s Quarterfinal Run at 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup
CHICAGO (Oct. 9, 2023) – Defender Brandan Craig has been added to the U.S. Men’s Olympic Soccer Team roster for its October training camp in Phoenix, Ariz. His addition brings the total number of players to 24.
Kicking off preparations for its first appearance in the Olympics since 2008, the USA will face Mexico on Wednesday, Oct. 11 (7 p.m. local) and Japan on Tuesday, Oct. 17 (7:30 p.m. local) at Phoenix Rising Stadium. Tickets are available for purchase via Phoenix Rising.
Craig was a key player for the Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team this past cycle, which included a standout performance during the USA’s run to the quarterfinals of the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina. The center back played the full 90 minutes in each of the team’s five matches at the tournament.
A Homegrown Player for the Philadelphia Union, Craig is currently on loan at Austin FC through the end of the 2023 Major League Soccer season.
The Men’s Olympic Soccer Tournament is restricted to players under the age of 23 with an allowance for three overage players. The Olympic Men’s Soccer Team serves as an important part of the Federation’s mission to develop winning teams as it will provide some of the nation’s top young talent the opportunity to face elite opposition on the world stage next summer.
U.S. OLYMPIC MEN’S SOCCER TEAM – OCTOBER TRAINING CAMP
GOALKEEPERS (3): Christopher Brady (Chicago Fire FC; Naperville, Ill.), John Pulskamp (Sporting KC; Bakersfield, Calif.), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew; St. Charles, Mo.)
DEFENDERS (7): Brandan Craig (Austin FC; Philadelphia, Pa.), Maximilian Dietz (SpVgg Greuther Furth/GER; Frankfurt, Germany), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union; Oldsmar, Fla.), Bryan Reynolds (Westerlo/BEL; Fort Worth, Texas), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls; Chatham, N.J.), Jonathan Tomkinson (Bradford City/ENG; Plano, Texas), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United FC; Atlanta, Ga.)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER; Medford, N.J.), Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA; Greensboro, N.C.), Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF; Key Biscayne, Fla.), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union; Queens, N.Y.), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew; Ft Lauderdale, Fla.), Tanner Tessmann (Venezia/ITA; Birmingham, Ala.), Obed Vargas (Seattle Sounders FC; Anchorage, Alaska)
FORWARDS (7): Esmir Bajraktarevic (New England Revolution; Appleton, Wisc.), Taylor Booth (Utrecht/NED; Eden, Utah), Johan Gomez (Eintracht Braunschweig/GER; Keller, Texas), Brian Gutierrez (Chicago Fire FC; Chicago, Ill.), Bernard Kamungo (FC Dallas; Abilene, Texas), Duncan McGuire (Orlando City SC; Omaha, Neb.), Indiana Vassilev (St. Louis City SC; Savannah, Ga.)