It depends. In some prior Olympiads, FIFA mandated that teams release players (2008 & 2012) and in others it did not (2016). I don't think it is yet clear what FIFA will require in 2020, although it is not on the official calendar.
2020 International Duty
- Thread starter LionNYC
- Start date
No NYCFC players on the U23 Olympic Qualifying team.
Maybe we told Kreis we wouldn’t release them.
It's certainly possible. It's only 20 players, however, so there isn't a lot of room.
Parks hasn't been strong enough from the end of last season and so far in this season, although it's close.
Sands is a bit more of a surprise - especially given that he can play both defense and midfield, which is valuable flexibility when the roster only has 17 outfield players.
The big question in both cases is Hassani Dotson of Minnesota, a name I am not embarrassed to say I didn't recognize. He started 15 games last year for Minnesota and like Sands is a hybrid defense/midfield player. He played in some U23 friendlies in the fall, but I don't think he has otherwise featured for the USA youth teams.
As an aside, I don't think Scally was a serious candidate, notwithstanding his good work with the U20s and expensive sale to Germany. He is still only 17, not getting first team minutes, and is behind Reggie Cannon at that position anyway.
