The United States U-23 run at the Olympics couldn’t have come to a much worse close than a 4-0 thumping to Morocco, but while the gap in the score was surprising, the result wasn’t. A good moment to show the gulf in class was Achraf Hakimi’s goal where he sped past Kevin Paredes and John Tolkin, and the mere the presence of Hakimi on the field shows the difference between these teams.

Hakimi is not only a better soccer player than any overaged member of the United States squad but he’s arguably a better soccer player than any member of the senior side as well. There’s no shame in losing to a team with that level of talent. And while this team lost to teams more talented than them in France and Morocco, the players also showcased their potential and were still able to put seven goals past Guinea and New Zealand.

Everyone wants to medal at the Olympics and it is unfortunate that this team didn’t, but it’s also something that the United States has never done in their history. Meanwhile this team does have their own accomplishments to point to as the first United States men’s soccer team to get out of the group stage in 24 years. That shouldn’t be discounted. Players were tossed into the pressure cooker with four meaningful games and still managed to rise to the occasion.

With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, players involved in the Olympics know where they’ll need to improve to make that squad and have experience at multiple competitive tournaments to lean on. Without World Cup qualifying, due to being a host nation, chances for competitive experience are few and far between. This match experience matters.

In the attacking band of Griffin Yow, Paxten Aaronson, and Kevin Paredes, they showed glimpses of talent that can play with the senior team while Tanner Tessmann was strong in midfield behind them. The midfield lost some steam after Gianluca Busio went down with a hamstring injury, but overall this was a good learning experience for Marko Mitrovic and the squad. Even young Benjamin Cremaschi who will be age-eligible for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles was able to get experience during this tournament.

Questions remain for what the United States needs to do in order to topple top teams in the world but part of that equation is projecting what these young players can do in the future. With some already in Europe or on their way to European moves, the stage for that improvement is set, and being at tournaments like the Olympics will only help foster that.

Of course, projection is easier with an actual senior team coach but members of the U-23s are doing more than enough to be in the plans of whoever that coach may be. While they may not start breaking into the USMNT during the September international window, strong starts to club seasons are all it takes to be included with the senior team sooner than later. It’s all about a path of continued growth and from their performance at the Concacaf U-20 Championships to the Olympics now, it’s a long road but the growth is there.

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