Steve Cherundolo has been named to lead the U.S. under-23 men’s national team toward the 2028 LA Olympics, giving U.S. Soccer a coach whose own playing career was built on experience at the highest level.
The appointment fits the moment. The United States will automatically qualify for the Los Angeles Games as host, and the men’s Olympic tournament will again be played under the U-23 age limit with three overage players allowed. U.S. Soccer’s plan is to use camps at its new national training center, along with friendlies, to build the squad before the tournament.
Why Cherundolo is a natural fit
Cherundolo is not being asked to learn the international stage from scratch. He made 87 appearances for the USMNT between 1999 and 2012, and he played every minute of the World Cup tournaments in 2002, 2006 and 2010 at right back. That level of trust is exactly why his name stands out for a development role that still carries real expectation.
He was named to the USMNT’s All-Time Best XI in 2013 and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2021. In other words, this is a coach who understands what it means to represent the country, not just manage a team.
Dan Helfrich said the 2028 Olympics present a critical platform to develop the next generation of players, engage the fan base and pursue an Olympic medal at home. He added that Cherundolo’s leadership will be instrumental in building an Olympic team that proudly represents U.S. Soccer, and that he will work closely with the senior and youth national team coaches.
A coach with club success behind him
Cherundolo also arrives with recent coaching experience at LAFC, where he was hired in 2022 and led the club to the MLS Cup and the Supporters’ Shield. LAFC also won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in 2024.
His four-season record with LAFC finished at 106 wins, 32 draws and 55 losses, which underlines that U.S. Soccer is handing the Olympic job to a coach who has already operated in a winning environment. That matters because the Olympic project is not only about selection, but about setting standards early.
Cherundolo said he believes there is an exciting group of players with tremendous potential, and that he is looking forward to building an environment where they can challenge themselves, grow together and represent the country with pride.
What comes next for the U.S.
The bigger picture is straightforward. The U.S. men went 16 years without qualifying for the Olympics before reaching the Paris Games in 2024, so the LA cycle carries both opportunity and expectation. With home advantage, automatic qualification and a coach who knows the demands of elite football, U.S. Soccer now has its structure in place for the run to 2028.
The next steps will come through camps, friendlies and the slow shaping of a U-23 group that can handle the pressure of a home Olympics. For Cherundolo, the brief is clear: build early, build smart, and arrive in Los Angeles ready to compete for a medal.
