USMNT great Steve Cherundolo hired to coach U.S. men’s Olympic soccer team

U.S. Soccer has hired Steve Cherundolo as the head coach of the Under-23 men’s national team that will compete at the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Cherundolo was most recently the head coach of LAFC and was a decorated U.S. international. As a player, he appeared at three World Cups for the USMNT. He earned 87 caps for the national team from 1999-2012 and was a 2021 inductee to the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

“Representing the United States at the Olympic Games is one of the greatest honors in sports, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead this team,” Cherundolo said in a statement. “I believe we have an exciting group of players with tremendous potential, and I’m looking forward to building an environment where they can challenge themselves, grow together, and represent our country with pride. Our responsibility is to compete with courage, humility, and a clear identity, one that reflects the values of U.S. Soccer and gives our supporters a team they can be proud of.”

Cherundolo spent four years as head coach of LAFC, winning MLS Cup and the Supporters’ Shield in 2022 and the U.S. Open Cup in 2024. The club finished no worse than third place in the Western Conference in each of his four seasons and also finished as runner-up in the Concacaf Champions League and MLS Cup in 2023.

After 2025, Cherundolo stepped down from his role at the club, citing a desire for his family to return to Germany. Cherundolo spent 15 seasons at German club Hannover 96, making 415 appearances. He stayed in Germany to get his coaching license and began coaching in the German federation at the youth national team level.

“Throughout his career, Steve Cherundolo has been a proven winner, an elite talent developer, and a great ambassador for American soccer,” U.S. Soccer Federation COO Dan Helfrich said. “The 2028 Olympics present a critical platform to develop our next generation of players and further engage our passionate fan base as we pursue an Olympic medal at home. Steve’s leadership will be instrumental in building an Olympic team that proudly represents U.S. Soccer. And he will work closely with both our Senior and Youth National team coaches in growing the game together.”

Helfrich led the coaching search in the absence of a sporting director, following Matt Crocker’s departure from that role prior to the World Cup.

As the host nation, the United States has automatically qualified for the Olympics. The program advanced to the quarterfinals under Marko Mitrovic in 2024 after failing to qualify for the tournament over three successive cycles after the 2008 Olympics.

The team’s best finish was in Sydney 2000, when the team reached the semifinals.

The Olympics is a U-23 tournament that allows for three over-age players on the roster. The 12-team men’s competition is not on the FIFA calendar, meaning clubs are under no obligation to release players called into squads, adding another layer of roster-building and diplomacy with clubs for the head coach and federation.

While the Olympics are in L.A., soccer will be played across six MLS venues in New York, Columbus, Nashville, San Jose, St. Louis and San Diego. The gold medal match will take place at the Rose Bowl.