The Columbus Crew's goalkeeper Patrick Schulte has been selected to play for the U.S. Olympic Men's Soccer team.
The Crew announced Monday Schulte was selected as one of two goalkeepers to the 18-man roster to play in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Schulte is 23 years old and made his team debut at the beginning of the 2023 season when the Crew went on to win the MLS Cup.
Schulte became the youngest goalkeeper to start and win an MLS Cup at the age of 22 last year.
The Crew said USMNT Head Coach Marko Mitrovic made the selection.
Schulte said in a statement that playing in the Olympics is a dream come true.
“It’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was little, and to have this opportunity is something I’ll cherish forever,” said Schulte.
The team said Schulte will leave to join the national team following the Crew’s road match against Los Angeles FC on July 13.
This will be the first time the U.S. will have the men's national team in the Olympics since 2008.
This season for the Crew, Schulte has started 18 games and recorded 49 saves and 16 total goals scored against him. In the Crew's championship run last year, Schulte appeared in 31 games with 90 saves and six shutout games.
“Without the Crew, I wouldn’t be able to represent Team USA in Paris. The Club pushes me every day to get better which has given me this opportunity to go chase my dream of playing for Team USA. Being an Olympian is an honor and something I hold with true pride, to represent not just myself but my family, who has supported me through it all, the club and most importantly the country that will be behind us throughout the games," Schulte said.
The U.S. Mens Team will first play in the group stage on July 24 against host country France in Marseille.
The team's full roster can be viewed here.
