CHICAGO (Oct. 31, 2024) – U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team head coach Everett Palache has named his final 23-player roster for the 2024 Deaf Pan American Games to be held Nov. 9-16 in Canoas, Brazil. As U.S. Soccer continues its mission to develop winning teams and celebrate the game in all of its forms, the competition will serve as qualification for the 2025 Deaflympics to be held next November in Tokyo, Japan.
Reigning champions of the 2019 Deaf Pan Am Games held in Temuco, Chile, the USA was drawn into Group B, where it will face Colombia on Nov. 9 (8 a.m. ET) before taking on Argentina on Nov. 11 (8 a.m. ET) in a rematch of the 2019 Gold Medal Game. The top-two finishers in each group will advance to the semifinals on Nov. 14, with the losers playing in the Bronze Medal Match on Nov. 15 and the winners in the Gold Medal Match on Nov. 16. The top three finishers will qualify for the 2025 Deaflympics.
“We look forward to representing the United States at the 2024 Deaf Pan American Games,” Palache said. “The combination of experienced athletes and new, youthful talent gives us a solid chance to achieve our goal of qualifying for the 2025 Deaflympics. With each win, we hope to bring more exposure to the Deaf National Teams and continue to support the overall objective of building winning teams throughout our National Teams program.”
The roster features 16 players that helped the USA to an eighth-place finish at the 2023 DIFA World Deaf Football Championships last October in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and seven who were part of the gold medal side at the 2019 Deaf Pan American Games. Veterans of both tournaments include defenders Kevin Fitzpatrick (Hopatcong, N.J.),
Eddie Perry (Dellwood, Minn.), midfielders Braden Anderson (Boise, Idaho), Raul Silva (San Diego, Calif.), JP Kanashiro (Springfield, Va.), and forwards Chad Johnson (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Michael Schmid (Cleveland, Ohio). Meanwhile, the USA is also bolstered by 2023 U.S. Soccer Deaf Male Player of the Year, Chris Bourdon (San Diego, Calif.).
U.S. MEN’S DEAF NATIONAL TEAM DETAILED ROSTER (Hometown):
GOALKEEPERS (2): Erik Jaspers* (Saratoga Springs, Utah), Sam Lang* (Fort Thomas, Ken.)
DEFENDERS (6): David Dircio* (San Diego, Calif.), Kevin Fitzpatrick*^ (Hopatcong, N.J.), Luke Haubruge* (San Marcos, Calif.), Kevin Oladimeji (Washington, D.C.), Eddie Perry*^ (Dellwood, Minn.), JJ Waterman (Altoona, Iowa)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Braden Anderson*^ (Boise, Idaho), Dawson Anderson* (Boise, Idaho), Aidan Burns (Cornwall, N.Y.), Arthur Goncalves* (Belmont, Calif.), Owen Jacobs (Pensacola, Fla.), JP Kanashiro*^ (Springfield, Va.), Tate Lancaster* (Overland Park, Kan.), Raul Silva*^ (San Diego, Calif.)
FORWARDS (7): Samson Abraham (Seattle, Wash.),Chris Bourdon* (San Diego, Calif.), Daniel DeMoura (Holliston, Mass.), Bennett Haas (Sewickley, Pa.), Chad Johnson*^ (Los Angeles, Calif.), Thomas Salvi* (Fairfax, Va.), Michael Schmid*^ (Cleveland, Ohio)
*Part of U.S. roster at 2023 World Deaf Football Championships
^Part of U.S. roster at 2019 Deaf Pan American Games
About the U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team
The U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team is for eligible qualifying players who must have a hearing loss of at least 55 decibels in their “better ear”. If you or someone you know qualifies for the Men’s Deaf National Team and plays at a high level, you can contact us via email at ExtendedNT@ussoccer.org for more information on potential playing opportunities.
