For the Paris Olympics this summer, For The Win is helping you get to know some of the star Olympians competing on the world’s biggest stage. We’re highlighting 15 Team USA athletes in the 15 days leading up to the Opening Ceremony. Up next is Miles Robinson.
For the first time since 2008, the U.S. men’s national team has qualified for the Olympic Games. But unlike the women’s tournament — which includes senior national teams — the men’s tournament will be comprised of U-23 teams competing in a non-FIFA event. Every team is allowed to call up three overage players for the Olympics, and Miles Robinson is among the USMNT’s overage selections.
Here are five facts about the USMNT defender.
1. He is among the most experienced players on the U.S. roster
As mentioned above, the men’s Olympic soccer tournament is a junior competition. So, you won’t see USMNT stars like Christian Pulisic or Jedi Robinson suiting up in Paris.
Miles Robinson, though, does have plenty of senior team experience. He’s one of four players on the roster with double-digit caps for the senior USMNT — only 31-year-old defender Walker Zimmerman has more. Robinson almost certainly would have been named to former USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter’s 2022 World Cup roster had an Achilles injury not kept him out for extended time just months before the World Cup.
2. He scored the go-ahead goal in the USMNT’s 2021 Gold Cup final win over Mexico
Though Robinson is a defender, he has shown the ability to get involved with the attack — particularly off set pieces. He scored the winning goal against rival Mexico in the 117th minute of the 2021 Gold Cup final. It was his third goal with the senior national team and by far his biggest moment with the program.
MILES ROBINSON IN THE 117TH MINUTE 😱
The @USMNT takes the lead!!!!f pic.twitter.com/1CwsO0qQWe
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 2, 2021
3. He was also included on the Copa America roster
Despite the poor showing at the Copa America, the USMNT’s talent has never been stronger. Nearly the entire senior roster was comprised of players at top European clubs. Robinson was the exception as one of just three MLS players on the 26-man Copa roster. His MLS club FC Cincinnati is allowing the defender to extend his time away from the squad to compete in both tournaments.
4. Robinson had garnered strong interest from European clubs before staying in MLS
Before his Achilles injury, Robinson was one of the brighter prospects with Atlanta United in MLS and had attracted strong interest from Dutch powerhouse PSV Eindhoven. Instead of joining USMNT teammates Sergiño Dest, Ricardo Pepi and Malik Tillman at PSV, Robinson opted to sign with FC Cincinnati in January.
5. He will be the first FC Cincinnati player to compete in the Olympic Games
FC Cincinnati’s inaugural season was in 2019, so it only went one Olympic cycle with a chance to send a player to the Games. But Robinson still will make club history as FC Cincinnati’s first-ever Olympian. He described the call-up as a dream come true in an interview with the club.
“Growing up, I always watched the Olympics, whether it was track or swimming or anything. So I was a fan of the Olympics, but to be a part of a team… I’m just excited to be a part of this group. I’m so excited. It’s definitely a dream come true. I’m excited to get going.”
Men’s soccer at the 2024 Paris Olympics begins July 24 — a couple days before the Opening Ceremony — when the USMNT will take on France in the Group A matchup at 3 p.m. ET.
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