A 16-year wait ends for the U.S. Olympic men's soccer this summer
It’s been nearly two decades, but soccer fans in the United States will have two teams to cheer for at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The U.S. men’s soccer team will return to the Games for the first time since 2008.
The men will look to put their failed qualification attempts in 2012, 2016 and 2020 behind them when they join the women’s team to represent the U.S. in Paris this summer.
As the anticipation builds for the men’s team trip to Paris, let’s look at the players who were selected by then-coach Peter Nowa to compete in the 2008 Beijing Games — and where they are now.
Goalkeepers
Brad Guzan
Guzan was the starting goalkeeper for the U.S., keeping a lone clean sheet in three games of the preliminary round. He was 23 years old at the time playing for former MLS club Chivas USA.
The now 39-year-old went on to have a successful career in Europe, playing eight years in the Premier League – seven with Aston Villa and one with Middlesborough.
Guzan is still an active player and has been the starting goalkeeper for Atlanta United since 2017, helping the young franchise win the 2018 MLS Cup. He’s also been with the senior national team since 2006 and served as the starting goalkeeper from 2015-17, winning two CONCACAF Gold Cups.
Guzan has not been called up to the senior national team since 2021.
Chris Seitz
Seitz joined Guzan as one of two goalies on the U.S. men's national team at the Beijing Games. The then 20-year-old had a year of MLS experience under his belt before the Olympics, but never got to see the field at the Games.
Seitz’s future was still bright despite being the backup goalkeeper. He spent his 14-year-long career in MLS, playing for Real Salt Lake, Philadelphia Union, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo and D.C. United.
He earned one call-up to the U.S. men’s senior national team in September 2007 for a game against Brazil but did not see any playing time.
The 36-year-old announced his retirement from professional soccer in January 2022. He now coaches youth soccer and teams up with the MLS to help provide a smooth transition for rookies entering the league.
Defenders
Patrick Ianni
Ianni did not see any playing time during the Olympics.
He still went on to have a career in MLS. Ianni was part of the Houston team that lifted the MLS Cup trophy in 2008 but did not make an appearance in the playoffs.
After Houston, Ianni went on to play with the Seattle Sounders and the Chicago Fire before hanging up his cleats in 2015. Three years later, he came out of retirement to play with the semi-professional club Orange County FC. But after one season, he retired again.
Ianni now offers mentorship and training services to soccer players.
Michael Orozco
Orozco was the centerpiece of the team’s defense in Beijing. He started all three games in the group stages. However, his run in the tournament was cut short when he was given a red card in the opening five minutes of the team’s game against Nigeria. The U.S. would go on to lose 2-1 and fail to advance in the tournament.
After the Olympics, Orozco went on to make more appearances with the senior national team, including a marquee 1-0 victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, marking the first-ever road win for the U.S. against its rivals. He was last called up for the national team in 2016.
On the club level, Orozco spent most of his career playing in Mexico. He most recently played with Orange County SC in the USL Championship from 2021-22, leading them to win the final in his first year. He was released after the 2022 season and has since remained a free agent.
Michael Parkhurst
Parkhurst was another defender who started in all three games in Beijing for the U.S. He helped log one clean sheet and played every minute in the group stage.
His career post-Olympics included stops with clubs in the MLS, Danish Superliga and Bundesliga.
After spending just one season with German club Augsburg in the 2012-13 season, Parkhurst was transferred to the Columbus Crew. He then finished his career with Atlanta, also being with the team when they won the MLS Cup. He retired after the 2019 season.
Parkhurst was called up to the U.S. men’s national team for the 2007 and 2013 Gold Cups. In 2014, he was included in the 30-man preliminary roster for the World Cup but did not make the final roster.
Parkhurst is now the co-founder of Rhode Island FC, a club that will compete in the United Soccer League in the upcoming season.
Marvell Wynne
Wynne was the final piece to the starting back three for all of the U.S. group stage matches. Similar to Parkhurst, Wynne played every minute of the group stage phase of the tournament.
He would go on to spend his professional career in the MLS, playing for the New York Red Bulls, Toronto FC, Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquakes. Wynne lifted the MLS Cup trophy during the 2010 season with Colorado.
He announced his retirement in 2018 following surgery to correct a heart abnormality.
After the Olympics, Wynne made five appearances for the U.S. national team, the last of which came in 2011.
Wynne is now a college soccer coach, and most recently served as the assistant head coach of the men’s soccer team at John Wood Community College.
Midfielders
Freddy Adu
Once deemed the next Pelé, Freddy Adu was one of the midfielders used as a starting forward in the first two games of the group stage. However, the proposed phenom was shown a yellow in each of those games, ruling him out for the final group stage match.
At the time of his signing with D.C. United, Adu was the youngest player ever to sign an MLS contract at 14. Following his time at D.C. United and the Olympics, Adu became a journeyman and played for 15 teams in nine countries, including Portugal, Brazil and Serbia. He last played for Swedish side Osterlen FF in early 2021. However, his contract was terminated a month later.
Adu made more appearances with the national team after the Olympics from 2009-11.
The 34-year-old has not announced his retirement from professional soccer but has said that he is now coaching the next generation of kids in the sport.
Michael Bradley
Before he became one of the captains of the national team, Bradley was part of the Beijing Olympic team. Similar to Adu, Bradley also received a yellow card in the first two group stage games, causing him to miss out on the final one. In those two games, Bradley played the entirety of them.
The now 36-year-old went on to be one of the best American soccer players of all time, playing in the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. He made over 150 international appearances, with his last coming in 2019. Bradley also won two Gold Cups with the national team.
On the club level, Bradley played in the Netherlands, Germany, England, Italy and the U.S. He spent most of his prime years with Serie A club AS Roma and MLS side Toronto. He went to the MLS Cup Final three times with Toronto, with his only win coming in 2017.
Bradley announced his retirement after the 2023 MLS Season. He is currently an assistant coach at Norwegian club Stabaek
Maurice Edu
Maurice Edu was a starter for all group stage play and played the entirety of each game. He was part of the starting five midfielders the U.S. used in a 3-5-2 formation.
Following the Olympics, Maurice Edu secured a move to Scottish side Rangers FC after a stellar rookie season with Toronto in the MLS. He would go on to play for Stoke City in the Premier League, Bursaspor in the Turkish Super Lig and the Philadelphia Union in the MLS.
Maurice Edu was included in the 23-man roster for the U.S. in the 2010 World Cup. His last appearance for the national team was in 2014.
In March of 2019, Maurice Edu announced his retirement. He is now a TV soccer analyst and color commentator.
Benny Feilhaber
Feilhaber played in every group stage match, coming off the bench as a substitute. In total, he logged over 63 minutes of game time in Beijing.
The midfielder would go on to earn more caps with the national team after the 2008 Olympic Games. He was named to the 2009 Confederation Cup roster and played in the final against Brazil, a match in which the U.S. lost 3-2. The next year, Feilhaber was called up to the 2010 World Cup squad. There, he operated as a super sub role within the team, coming off the bench in two group stage games and the Round of 16 loss to Ghana.
Despite impressive performances in previous tournaments with the U.S., Feilhaber went on to only make six more appearances for the national team from 2012-17.
The 39-year-old's early club career included stops in Germany, England, Denmark and the U.S. Feilhaber spent his prime years in MLS, most notably with Sporting Kansas City. He helped the team win the MLS Cup in 2013 and was awarded the Landon Donovan MVP award in 2015. Feilhaber also spent time with New England, Los Angeles FC and Colorado.
He announced his retirement in March 2020. He is currently the head coach of MLS Next Pro side Sporting Kansas City II.
Stuart Holden
Holden started as one of the five midfielders in all three games of the group stage, scoring one goal in the team’s opening 1-0 win against Japan.
After the Olympics, Holden’s injuries held him back from reaching his potential throughout his career. He had six knee operations in 11 years that kept him sidelined during his time with Houston Dynamo FC from 2006-09 and then-Premier League side Bolton Wanderers from 2010-14.
Still, he was part of the Houston team that won the MLS Cup in 2006. He also notched a spot on the 2010 World Cup roster for the U.S., with his only game time coming in the team’s opening 1-1 draw against England. Post-World Cup, Holden made eight more appearances for the U.S. in 2013.
He decided to hang up his cleats in February 2016. He is now a color commentator and TV soccer analyst.
Sacha Kljestan
Kljestan was the most impactful player for the U.S. at the Beijing Games. He started every game, played every minute and was the team’s lead scorer with two goals.
After the Olympics, Kljestan played for Belgian club Anderlecht. Then, in 2015, he signed with the New York Red Bulls in MLS. Kljestan helped New York win the MLS Supporters Shield in 2015 and took over captain duties in 2017. After New York, the 38-year-old also spent time with Orlando City SC and LA Galaxy.
Kljestan appeared in qualifying matches for the 2010 and 2018 World Cups with the U.S. but failed to make the final rosters, including the 2014 World Cup. His last appearance for the national team was in 2017.
In January 2023, Kljestan announced his retirement. He is currently a TV soccer analyst for MLS.
Dax McCarty
After defender Nathan Sturgis had to pull out of the Beijing Games due to injury, midfielder Dax McCarty was called up to take his place. His only appearance in the tournament came in the last match of the group stage, coming off the bench in the last 20 minutes of the game.
After the Olympics, McCarty made five more appearances for the U.S. from 2009-11 and then logged another eight in 2017. He hasn’t been called up since.
McCarty has spent his club career thus far solely in MLS. Since 2006, he has played for FC Dallas, D.C. United, New York Red Bulls, Chicago Fire, Nashville SC and Atlanta United – where he is currently a player on the active roster. He served as the captain for New York in the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Danny Szetela
Szetela made two appearances in Beijing. The first as a substitute in the opening match and then as a starter the final game in the group stage.
Despite logging playing time in the Olympics, Szetela’s career did not unfold the way he expected due to injuries. After spending time in Spain and Italy, Szetela returned to the U.S. to play for D.C. United in 2009, but was released by the club the next year. After that, he spent time playing lower-division soccer in the U.S.
Szetela made three caps for the national team after the 2008 Olympics. He retired professionally in August 2021.
Forwards
Jozy Altidore
The forward room for the U.S. was crowded with talent at the Beijing Games, including the likes of Jozy Altidore. He appeared in all three group-stage matches. In the first two, he came off the bench as a substitute and started the final one. Altidore also scored a goal in the team’s second game, resulting in a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands. He was the only forward on the team to register a goal.
Altidore joins a lengthy list of American strikers who had a successful career in Europe. He played for teams in Spain, the Netherlands and England – including a two-year stay with then-Premier League club Sunderland – before returning to the MLS after signing with Toronto. He helped Toronto win the MLS Cup in 2017 and was named the MLS Cup MVP that same year.
He moved on to play with New England in 2022 but was then bought by Mexican club Puebla. Altidore is currently a free agent.
The 34-year-old is the fourth-highest all-time goalscorer for the national team. He was named to the 2010 and 2014 World Cup squads and started all games in 2010. His last appearance for the national team was in 2019.
Charlie Davies
Davies only appeared in one game at the Olympics, where he served as a substitute against Nigeria in the final group-stage match.
Davies spent time in Sweden, France and Denmark before returning to the U.S. to play for New England. He took New England to the MLS Cup Final, but lost 2-1 to the LA Galaxy. Davies then spent two seasons with Philadelphia from 2016-17 before announcing his retirement in March 2018.
After the Olympics, Davies received more call-ups to the national team but was left out of the 2010 World Cup roster. His last appearance came in 2009.
Davies is now a TV soccer analyst.
Brian McBride
McBride was one of the allowed overaged players the U.S. had on its squad. In the men’s Olympic soccer tournament, teams can only bring three players above the age of 23.
Entering the tournament, McBride was 35 years old and in the latter stages of his career. Due to his experience, McBride was named captain and started every game, but failed to score a goal.
He is the fifth-highest all-time goalscorer for the U.S. and is regarded as one of the greatest American strikers. He was part of the 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cup rosters.
McBride saw most of his club success come from his time with Premier League side Fulham, scoring 33 goals in 140 goals from 2003-08. After Fulham, McBride signed with Chicago in 2008 and then announced his retirement two years later.
McBride is currently the general manager for the U.S. men’s national team.
Robbie Rogers
Despite normally playing as a forward, Rogers was used as a midfielder for the U.S. He started every game in the group stage.
After the Olympics, Rogers went on to make 18 appearances for the U.S. from 2009-11, scoring two goals.
Rogers played with Leeds United in England and the Columbus Crew in the U.S. before he announced his first retirement in 2013. In that same announcement, he became the first pro soccer player based in England to come out since 1990.
Later that year, Rogers came out of retirement and signed with the LA Galaxy. In 2014, he helped the Galaxy win the MLS Cup, becoming the first openly gay male athlete to win a professional major sports title in the U.S.
In November 2017, Rogers announced his second retirement due to a string of injuries.
The 36-year-old is now a TV show executive producer and was recently nominated for a Golden Globe for the limited series “Fellow Travelers.”