In the aftermath of the United States men’s team’s ousting from last summer’s Olympics, perspectives on the tournament remain varied.

Despite qualifying for the Olympics for the first time since 2008 and successfully navigating a group that involved host nation France, the predominantly young squad faced a disappointing 4-0 loss in the quarterfinals against Morocco, raising doubts about the depth of the USMNT program.

However, the current outlook is more promising. Five athletes from the 2024 Olympic team are now training with the senior squad under coach Mauricio Pochettino. With major stars like Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams unavailable this month due to club commitments, others have the opportunity to shine during training sessions in Florida and friendly matches against Venezuela and Costa Rica.

Jack McGlynn, a 21-year-old midfielder, reflected on the past experience:

“For me, the Olympics was a huge learning experience.”

This sentiment resonates as athletes like John Tolkin and Patrick Schulte also made their senior debuts shortly after their Olympic journey.

Benjamin Cremaschi, representing Inter Miami, expressed:

“The Olympics is very tough. It’s very short. It comes and goes. But I feel like we had a good group.”

Team chemistry, fostered during past international competitions, remains crucial as the squad gears up for next year’s home soil World Cup. Notably, seasoned players including Walker Zimmerman and Tim Ream return to form after limited play in recent months.

Zimmerman highlighted the bonds formed:

“I did get to know a lot of these guys at the Olympics and build a lot of chemistry with them…”

With a focus on both fitness and performance from Pochettino, the urgency for the newcomers to integrate rapidly is clear as they look ahead to crucial competitions later this year.