ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The U.S. Men's National Team announced the 18-man squad that will head to Paris, France to compete in the 2024 Olympics and among the squad includes a St. Louis-area native.
Columbus Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte, who was born in St. Charles, Missouri, was among the 18 players named to the squad by U.S. Olympic Men’s Soccer Team head coach Marko Mitrović Monday.
"It’s a dream come true to be able to represent the United States in the Olympics. It’s something I’ve dreamed of since I was little, and to have this opportunity is something I’ll cherish forever," said Schulte in a release from the Columbus Crew.
Schulte has started 18 MLS matches this season for the Crew, where he has posted seven clean sheets, already matching a career high he posted last year with the Crew. Schulte has been a valuable member of the Crew's first-team squad, helping the Crew win the 2023 MLS Cup last year while also playing every minute of the Crew's CONCACAF Champions Cup campaign, making 36 saves as the Crew reached the final for the first time in their club history.
Schulte has many ties to the St. Louis-area, growing up in St. Charles and attending Francis Howell High School. During his time attending Francis Howell High School, Schulte was a dual-sport athlete, playing as three-year varsity starter on the basketball team, while also serving as starting keeper for Saint Louis FC U19 Academy team.
After graduating, Schulte stayed in the area and chose to play for SLU, where he earned A-10 first-team All-Conference, as well as United Soccer Coaches second-team All-Region and Most Outstanding Player of the A-10 Championship in his final year with the Billikens before he chose to leave early and enter the 2022 MLS Superdraft.
Francis Howell School District congratulated Schulte on making the team in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Schulte becomes the third Francis Howell District alum to represent the U.S. in the Olympics according to the district, joining Jeff Hartwig who participated in the 1996 Olympics at pole vault and Sammie Henson who participated in the 2000 Olympics in wrestling.
As a reminder, men's soccer in the Olympics is a under-23 tournament, with players mostly restricted to under 23-years of age, except for the exceptions of three overage players. On the U.S. Olympic team, those three players are Walker Zimmermann, Miles Robinson and Djordje Mihailovic.
The U.S. Men's National team will begin their Olympic Campaign in Marseille where they will play host-nation France. France has a squad that consists of former Arsenal striker Alexander Lacazette, Bayern Munich forward Michael Olise and up and comers like RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba and VFB Stuttgart midfielder Enzo Millot. The France squad, coached by legendary Arsenal and Barcelona striker Thierry Henry, will be a big and early test for Schulte and the U.S. team to begin the Olympics.
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