USYNT Exits From Olympic Soccer Tournament in Quarterfinals, Reflects on the Farthest Run By the Men Since Sydney 2000

PARIS – The U.S. men’s national team suffered a 4-0 loss to Morocco in the men’s quarterfinals of the Olympic soccer tournament Friday evening. While Team USA’s run came to an end, there was much to be hopeful for coming out of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Moroccan fans showed up in the stands as the overwhelming majority at the Parc des Princes, as loud whistles and shouts filled the air at every pass made from the U.S. The fan advantage was no surprise as Moroccan captain and Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi was back at his club’s home ground, orchestrating the team’s structure from his defensive third.

“About 90 percent of fans were Morocco fans,” said U.S. head coach Marko Mitrović in response to the atmosphere. “I’m very focused on the game and don’t pay attention to the fans (during the game), but they had great support. Probably an extra five percent in this moment you need because all players are exhausted. And maybe another dose of adrenaline that the fans bring to them to support.”

U.S. defender John Tolkin, 22, noted how “it’s always difficult when all the stadium is against you” and that the USYNT had to block it out along with the mounting attack from Morocco. 

The advantage carried onto the pitch even though the Americans looked comfortable on the ball in the opening minutes of the game. The U.S. earned the first scoring chance almost immediately, as midfielder Paxten Aaronson almost flicked in a Miles Robinson cross that found its way into the penalty area.

The 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations champions took control of the game, spending most of the half stringing together dangerous combination plays against the American press. The constant attack from Morocco eventually earned them a penalty after a dangerous kick from defender Nathan Harriel. Harriel, 23, clipped the outstretched leg of Soufiane Rahimi of Morocco, who then converted the penalty to the bottom-left corner to go up 1-0 in the 29th minute.

The first half concluded with much to be desired for a frustrated U.S. side. 

There were positives to be taken out of the start of the second half as the U.S. finally began to find their identity in the game. Kevin Parades, the 21-year-old forward, led several chances after assisting a shot attempt from Aaronson near the box, winning a freekick in the offensive third and sending a shot from the box that was blocked.

But the improvement from Team USA quickly faltered. Morocco shutdown the U.S.’ efforts with two quick goals within seven minutes of each other. Ilias Akhomach executed a first-time, tap-in finish from Abde Ezzalouli’s low-driven cross in the 63rd minute, and Hakimi, 25, completed a solo run that started near half field in the 70th to take the lead to 3-0.

And to top off the USYNT’s pains of exiting the tournament, a second penalty conceded by Harriel occurred in the 91st following a handball in the penalty area. After a VAR review, it was confirmed a penalty, which Akram Nakach scored to close out the game, 4-0.

The Moroccans move on to the semifinals of the Olympic tournament to face Spain, who beat Japan, 3-0, in their respective quarterfinal matchup.

The last time a U.S. men’s national team reached the quarterfinals of the Olympic tournament was 24 years ago at the Olympic Games Sydney 2000, where the men claimed its best-ever, fourth-place finish following a loss to Chile in the bronze-medal game.

Mitrović believes that with the Paris Games being such an important event, like the FIFA World Cup, all experience gained from this run was good experience.

“When people talk about soccer, we know that the World Cup is the (biggest) tournament, but the Olympic Games are the biggest event that humanity created,” Mitrović said. “And once you’re in the Olympic Games, you’re in the big spotlight.

“These kinds of experiences are massive for the guys. Today, we all feel very disappointed but once we do some reflection, we have to take the best takeaways – the positive and negative sides – that can help us in the future.”

Tolkin, who has been competing for the USYNT internationally since 2018, believes that the inspiration felt from competing in his biggest tournament appearance is a silver lining to take ahead of the next one, potentially the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil.

“I hope to inspire some people back home and obviously it’s been a little while since we’ve been here. So the guys are going to have their heads high but still definitely disappointed.”