America are playing the long game — and for once, it might actually be the right call.

U.S. Soccer have named Steve Cherundolo as head coach of the U.S. U-23 national team, tasked with building the side that will represent the country at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. It's a logical appointment on paper. Cherundolo is a former USMNT defender who knows the programme from the inside out, and he arrives with genuine coaching credentials — MLS Cup winner with LAFC. This isn't a vanity hire. There's a real brief here, and three years to deliver it.

Why Cherundolo Makes Sense

Let's be straight: U.S. Soccer needed someone who could handle pressure in their own backyard. The 2028 Olympics are in Los Angeles. The weight of expectation on home soil is going to be enormous, and whoever they put in charge of that squad was always going to be scrutinised from day one.

Cherundolo ticks the boxes. He's worked with young talent at club level, he understands the MLS pipeline better than most, and he's already proven he can win. His stint at LAFC wasn't just solid — it delivered silverware. For a federation that's been building toward this moment since the 2026 World Cup was confirmed on home soil, appointing someone with actual domestic credibility is a smarter move than going for a foreign name who'll spend six months learning the landscape.

There's also a broader picture worth considering. With the World Cup arriving in 2026, [the MLS ecosystem is producing players at a faster rate than ever](/getohedz/football/messi-ream-berhalter-headline-mls-asg-roster) — and Cherundolo knows exactly who those players are. He's been watching them week in, week out. That matters when you're trying to build a cohesive U-23 squad over a cycle rather than picking based on reputation.

What He's Actually Been Handed

Three years is a decent runway, but it's not a luxury. The Olympic format is unforgiving — short, intense, high-stakes. There's no grinding through a qualification campaign to find your feet. You have to be ready, and readiness at U-23 level means getting the right players identified early and keeping them developing at the right clubs.

U.S. Soccer will be watching what neighbouring sides do closely too. [Mexico's new era under Rafael Márquez](/getohedz/football/mexico-start-mrquez-era-on-strong-foundation) gives CONCACAF a real subplot heading into this period — two nations both in rebuilding mode, both with eyes on 2026 and beyond, both under significant public scrutiny.

Cherundolo won't have it easy. The U.S. public isn't going to accept a group-stage exit in their own city. The men's programme has been under pressure for years to actually deliver at a major tournament, not just show up. An Olympic host nation crashing out early would be a PR disaster that no amount of federation spin could fix.

Our Take

This is a solid appointment. Cherundolo knows American football, he's won at club level, and he's got the temperament for a high-pressure role. Whether it's the right call ultimately depends on what the player pool looks like by 2028 — but as far as who's in charge of developing it, U.S. Soccer have made a defensible, intelligent decision. Now he just has to deliver.