COMMERCE CITY, Colo. - Colorado Rapids homegrown midfielder Cole Bassett has been named to the United States Men’s Olympic Roster ahead of their international friendlies taking place in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain, as the USA continues preparations for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. U.S. Soccer announced today.
The United States Men's Olympic Team is scheduled to participate in a pair of international friendlies as they prepare to return to the Olympics for the first time since 2008. As part of these matches, the U.S. will face Iraq (Nov. 18, 9 a.m. MT) and Morocco (Nov. 21, 7 a.m. MT). Both matches will be played at Pinatar Arena in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain.
Bassett, 22, has scored 19 goals and has delivered 12 assists in the MLS regular season, both are the most by a Homegrown Player in club history. His 2023 campaign saw him set a new single-season career high for goals scored (6) and surpass 5,392 regular-season minutes, the most minutes registered by a Homegrown Player in club history. Across all competitions, Bassett is tied for fourth-most goals scored by a midfielder in club history (19).
The Littleton, Colorado native is one of the eight players named to the roster that have been capped by the full U.S. Men’s National Team. The club’s 2023 Golden Boot winner scored on his USMNT debut on December 18, 2021, in the dying moments to secure the 1-0 for the Red White and Blue after subbing on in the 78th minute to make his senior team debut against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The result marked the USMNT’s 17th win in a calendar year, the most in program history.
Bassett is a product of local youth side Colorado Rush and joined the Rapids Academy in 2017 before signing a Homegrown Player contract with the club in August 2018 at age 17, then the youngest signing in Rapids history. At the time, he set additional records as the youngest player in club history to make his professional debut and score a goal. During his time with the Rapids, Bassett made 72 appearances for the club, recording 13 goals and 11 assists since making his professional debut on Sept. 8, 2018.
