The summer Olympics in the city of Paris is fast approaching and soccer enthusiasts in the United States have a reason to rejoice. The fourth time has proved to be lucky for the US as the USMNT failed to qualify for the main event on the previous three occasions. Along with the supporters, defender, Walker Zimmerman is also elated to finally get the chance to represent his nation on the biggest stage of them all.
Zimmerman will be one of the three overage players on the U-23 US Men’s Soccer Olympic team along with Miles Robinson and Djorde Mihailovic. Robinson will be the only individual in the camp who also participated in the ongoing Copa America 2024 as a part of Gregg Berhalter‘s squad which exited the competition in the group stages itself.
Walker Zimmerman underlines the value of the selection
At 31 years of age, Zimmerman was well aware that the present was his last opportunity to make the cut for the Olympics and he could not be more grateful for the selection, “Just getting this opportunity is amazing. It’s something I’ve always watched growing up. It’s such a unique opportunity to go into the Olympics, especially as an overage player”. Zimmerman’s experience at the back will be crucial to realizing the American dream to achieve a medal.
The defender made his debut for the senior national team all the way back at the beginning of 2017. Since then, his career highlights with his country have been the CONCACAF Gold Cup triumph in 2021 and a runners-up finish two years before that. Zimmerman was also a part of the US squad that participated in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He has been a regular feature for the USMNT with 42 appearances to date, scoring three goals in the process.
On the club level, Walker Zimmerman’s allegiance is tied to Nashville SC in the Major League Soccer. Having taken part in over 115 games for the club since his transfer in 2020, Zimmerman was awarded the best defender in the league in 2020 and 2021. He has also been named in the MLS Best XI for five straight years from 2020 to 2023. Zimmerman will be looking to contribute to the American effort in the Olympics as the nation prepares to bounce back following the debacle in the Copa America.