Gaga Slonina called up to USA Men’s National Football Team for Paris 2024 Olympics

The Summer Olympic Games are about to get underway in Paris in a couple weeks, with the men’s football tournament, an under-23 event with three overage exceptions allowed in each squad, running from July 24 to August 9.

That’s rather poorly timed for the start of the Premier League season, which is why Enzo Fernández was prevented from going with Argentina. But there are no such concerns for young goalkeeper Gabriel “Gaga” Slonina, who will be representing the USA — and hoping to do better than the senior squad had just done at the Copa América. Slonina spent last season on loan at Belgian top division outfit KAS Eupen, where he played a ton but was unable to save them (literally) from relegation.

Another potential name to watch for the USA will be left back Caleb Wiley, who’s reportedly in talks with BlueCo over a more to RC Strasbourg.

The full squad, who are coached by former Reading assistant Marko Mitrović (i.e. not Gregg Berhalter), is as follows. They will take on France (sans Lesley Ugochukwu or Malo Gusto), New Zealand, and Guinea in the group stages.

GOALKEEPERS: Patrick Schulte, Gabriel Slonina

DEFENDERS: Nathan Harriel, Walker Zimmerman, John Tolkin, Caleb Wiley, Maximilian Dietz, Miles Robinson

MIDFIELDERS: Gianluca Busio, Tanner Tessmann, Jack McGlynn, Benjamin Cremaschi, Djordje Mihailovic

FORWARDS: Kevin Paredes, Taylor Booth, Paxten Aaronson, Duncan McGuire, Griffin Yow