Real Salt Lake Trio Announced To Olympic Qualifying 28-Man Roster

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Three Real Salt Lake players have been selected to the 28-man United States squad ahead of their CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament.

Goalkeeper David Ochoa alongside defenders Justen Glad and Aaron Herrera will wear the Stars and Stripes with the hope of qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan this summer.

Herrera recently debuted for the United States first team in a 7-0 rout of Trinidad and Tobago on January 31st. The experience training and playing at the highest international level has given Herrera a world of confidence entering the upcoming U-23 tournament.

“Anytime we’re both at a camp we spend most of our time off the field with each other. So it’s always nice. Having someone that you’ve been close with for a while at the same camp definitely makes the whole experience a lot, a lot quicker and a lot easier,” Herrera said regarding Ochoa and Glad being selected alongside him.

Representing 🇺🇸

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) March 1, 2021

The tournament will start on March 18th when the United States plays Costa Rica in the first game of the group stage. The USA will then play the Dominican Republic on March 21st before ending the group stage with a blockbuster fixture against Mexico on March 24.

The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals. The two teams who win the semifinals will not only make the final of the tournament but will also earn a spot to represent their country at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament at the Tokyo Summer Games.

Glad and Herrera have both represented the USA at the U-23 level, however, this will be the first appearance for Ochoa.

“It is a little weird going in with I haven’t played an actual game for you know, multiple months. But at the end of the day, you just kind of do what you can to stay sharp and ready,” Glad said.

The final 20-man squad will be announced on either March 11 or 14.