The 2024 European Championship and Copa America competitions might be over, but the Paris Olympics are set to get underway in France.
MLS NEXT Pro talent will certainly be on display over the next month as the competition gets underway for 16 countries. Hosts France will be among the favorites to win the gold medal, being joined by Argentina, Spain, and Japan in the list of tournament favorites.
The United States' return to the competition has stolen many headlines this summer as Marko Mitrovic's squad aims for a deep run. Ben Cremaschi, Jack McGlynn, and Patrick Schulte are just a few MLS NEXT Pro graduates, who will play leading roles for Team USA.
New Zealand's Jay Herdman and Dominican Republic's Xavier Valdez are among the current crop of MLS NEXT Pro players seeking impressive tournaments abroad.
Here is a closer look at which MLS NEXT Pro players will be set for Olympic involvement:
Jay Herdman - Vancouver Whitecaps (New Zealand)
The Vancouver Whitecaps have seen a few MLS NEXT Pro players come through the pathway and Jay Herdman could very well be the next.
Herdman, 19, is the son of current Toronto FC head coach John, and is currently in his third MLS NEXT Pro season. A crafty attacker, Herdman has totaled five goals and three assists in 2024 for Whitecaps and overall has eclipsed 40 all-time appearances in the league.
New Zealand will hope that Herdman can be a productive player in Paris as the All Whites seek a deep tournament run.
Ben Cremaschi - Inter Miami (United States)
19-year-old Ben Cremaschi quickly made his mark in MLS NEXT Pro, which has led to a growing role with Inter Miami's first team.
Cremaschi has made 19 appearances to date for Inter Miami II, scoring five goals and adding two assists. He's carried that over to 42 first-team appearances for the Herons, contributing five goals and seven assists in MLS play.
A dual-national, who remains eligible to represent Argentina in the future, Cremaschi has already made his senior debut for the U.S. men's national team.
Xavier Valdez - Houston Dynamo 2 (Dominican Republic)
The Dominican Republic will rely heavily on goalkeeper Xavier Valdez in Paris this summer.
Valdez is in the midst of this third MLS NEXT Pro season Houston Dynamo 2. The 20-year-old goalkeeper has remained the starter for Dynamo Dos, making 10 starts this season and 41 overall since debuting in 2022.
The American-born shot-stopper already has five senior caps with the Dominican Republic and will hope a strong showing in France leads to a larger international role going forward.
Patrick Schulte - Columbus Crew (United States)
23-year-old Patrick Schulte made his mark in MLS NEXT Pro and has since become one of the rising stars in MLS
Schulte, a former MLS NEXT Pro Cup and MLS Cup winner, has remained the No. 1 goalkeeper for the Columbus Crew after a breakout 2023 season. After enjoying immediate success with Crew 2 in 2022, Schulte has been consistent with the Crew first team, registering 16 clean sheets since January 2023.
He will fight with former Chicago Fire homegrown Gabriel Slonina for the United States' No. 1 job in France.
Jack McGlynn - Philadelphia Union (United States)
The 2024 Summer Olympics will feature one of the sweetest left foots in MLS today.
Jack McGlynn is part of the United States' squad after another impressive campaign with the Philadelphia Union. McGlynn, 21, has already set new career-highs this season with three goals and five assists in 21 MLS appearances.
He made five MLS NEXT Pro appearances during the 2022 campaign with Marlon LeBlanc's squad.
Now, McGlynn remains a top talent that continues to garner European interest.
Nathan Harriel - Philadelphia Union (United States)
Nathan Harriel will join Union teammate Jack McGlynn as part of the United States' squad in France.
The 23-year-old right back made five MLS NEXT Pro appearances in 2022 before jumping into a larger role with the Union first team. Harriel, a Florida native, has featured in 81 MLS matches in Jim Curtin's squad, scoring three goals and adding five assists.
Expect to see Harriel feature heavily in Paris after being the only right back in Marko Mitrovic's squad.
Paxten Aaronson - Eintracht Frankfurt, formerly Philadelphia Union (United States)
One of the few European exports from MLS NEXT Pro, Paxten Aaronson will be a key player for Team USA.
The 20-year-old midfielder scored five goals and three assists during the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro season with Union II. In addition, Aaronson made 40 MLS appearances, scoring four goals in Jim Curtin's squad.
Aaronson, the brother of currrent USMNT midfielder Brenden, remains under contract with German Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt. He'll head out on loan to Dutch club FC Utrecht this coming season, but first will aim to help the United States enjoy a positive return to Olympic play.
