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The U.S. men's national team has yet to determine a successor for Mauricio Pochettino beyond the 2026 World Cup, but one of the leading candidates for the senior men's position is returning to the U.S. this week.
On Thursday, U.S. Soccer confirmed that former LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo will take charge of the U-23 USMNT, a squad set to compete at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and across the country.
"Representing the United States at the Olympic Games is among the greatest honors in sport, and I'm thankful for the chance to lead this program," Cherundolo said in a statement.
"I believe we have a talented group of players with enormous potential, and I'm eager to create an environment where they can push themselves, develop together, and represent our nation with pride. Our duty is to compete with courage, humility, and a clear identity — one that reflects the values of U.S. Soccer and gives our fans a team they can truly be proud of."
As hosts of the 2028 Olympics, the U.S. earns an automatic spot in every event, including the 12-team U-23 men's soccer tournament and the senior-level 16-team women's soccer tournament. All other nations must navigate qualifying campaigns to secure their place, with the 2026 U20 Championships serving as the route for other CONCACAF nations.
Who Is Steve Cherundolo?
Cherundolo departed LAFC following the 2025 MLS season, having guided the club to the 2022 MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield, the 2024 U.S. Open Cup, and a berth in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup — the inaugural edition of the expanded competition.
As a player, he earned 87 caps for the USMNT between 1999 and 2012 before being inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2021.
Taking the helm of the U-23 side will thrust him into the Olympic spotlight, as the team aims to reach the podium for the first time. He has previously been considered for the senior USMNT role, and this Olympic assignment could serve as a stepping stone toward that position down the line.
USA in Olympic Soccer
While the USWNT has enjoyed remarkable success in Olympic soccer, claiming gold five times across eight tournaments held to date, the men's side has never won gold, with only a silver and bronze to their name from the early 20th century. The team's strongest showing in the modern era was a defeat in the bronze-medal match at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
After missing three straight editions in 2012, 2016, and 2021, the U.S. returned to the men's Olympic soccer stage in Paris. The squad, led by Marko Mitrović, was beaten 4–0 by Morocco in the quarterfinals.
While the tournament will largely draw from U-23 talent, Cherundolo will have the option to call up three overage players — Walker Zimmerman, Miles Robinson, and Djordje Mihailovic filled those spots in 2024. Notably, in 2016, Brazil claimed gold on home soil after Neymar joined the young squad for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
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The 2028 Olympics will be centered in Los Angeles, though the soccer tournament will be distributed across the United States, with matches taking place well beyond Southern California.
Alongside the 89,700-seat Rose Bowl in Pasadena — which hosted the 1994 World Cup final — the tournament will also be staged at MLS venues in New York City, Columbus, Nashville, St. Louis, San Jose, and San Diego.