Everett Palache Names Final U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team Roster for 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo
Deaf MNT Will Face Senegal and Ukraine in Group D Play Next Month in Japan
ATLANTA (Nov. 4, 2025) – U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team head coach Everett Palache has named the final roster of players that will represent the United States in the Men’s Football Tournament at the 2025 Deaflympics from Nov. 12-25 in Tokyo, Japan.
Drawn into Group D, the Deaf MNT will face Ukraine on Nov. 16 and Senegal on Nov. 18, with both matches scheduled to kick off at 2:30 a.m. ET (4:30 p.m. local time) in Fukushima, Japan. The top two teams in each group will advance to the quarterfinals.
"We are thrilled to represent the United States at the historic 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo,” Palache said. “Our roster, which blends experienced veterans with exciting young talent, has been rigorously tested this cycle. The team's bronze medal finish at last year’s Deaf Pan American Games and our friendly win against Germany last month have set us up well for Japan where we are prepared to compete for the podium and determined to bring well-deserved, global exposure to our Deaf National Teams."
Palache has selected 17 players that helped the USA claim bronze at the 2024 Deaf Pan American Games, including a strong veteran core in defenders Kevin Fitzpatrick (Hopatcong, N.J.) and Tate Lancaster (Overland Park, Kan.), midfielders JP Kanashiro (Springfield, Va.) and Raul Silva (San Diego, Calif.) and forward Michael Schmid (Oberlin, Oio). Emergent talent like attackers Samson Abraham (Seattle, Wash.) and Chris Bourdon (San Diego, Calif.), and goalkeeper Sam Lang (Fort Thomas, Ky.) balance out a roster that heads to Japan seeking its first-ever Deaflympics medal.
DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (Hometown; Caps/Goals):
GOALKEEPERS (3): Sam Lang*^ (Fort Thomas, Ky.; 1/0), Andrew Lenert (Long Beach, Calif.; 0/0), Ethan Sullivan (Laguna Niguel, Calif.; 1/0),
DEFENDERS (8): Aidan Burns^ (Cornwall, N.Y.; 7/0), Philip Cruz (St. Augustine, Fla.; 2/0), Kevin Fitzpatrick*^ (Hopatcong, N.J.; 23/0), Luke Haubruge*^ (San Marcos, Calif.; 3/0), Tate Lancaster*^ (Overland Park, Kan.; 15/2), Kevin Oladimeji^ (Washington, D.C.; 2/0), Eddie Perry*^ (Dellwood, Minn.; 24/0), JJ Waterman^ (Altoona, Iowa; 4/0)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Braden Anderson*^ (Boise, Idaho; 21/2), Dawson Anderson*^ (Boise, Idaho; 14/1), JP Kanashiro*^ (Springfield, Va.; 38/2), Joseph Kennedy Jr. (Philadelphia, Pa.; 2/0), Raul Silva*^ (San Diego, Calif.; 30/4)
FORWARDS (6): Samson Abraham^ (Seattle, Wash.; 5/1), Chris Bourdon*^ (San Diego, Calif.; 12/2), Jacob Contreras (Tucson, Ariz; 0/0), Daniel De Moura^ (Holliston, Mass.; 3/0), Bennett Haas^ (Sewickley, Pa.; 5/1), Michael Schmid*^ (Oberlin, Ohio; 30/13) ^Part of squad at 2024 Deaf Pan American Games
* Part of squad at 2023 DIFA World Deaf Football Championships
DEAF MNT SCORES HISTORIC WIN VS. GERMANY IN SENDOFF MATCH
HOW THEY GOT HERE
The Deaf MNT qualified for next month’s Deaflympics by virtue of finishing third at the 2024 Deaf Pan American Games in Canoas, Brazil. After drawing 0-0 with Argentina in the group stage, the USA went toe-to-toe with Brazil, drawing the hosts 2-2 behind goals from brothers Braden and Dawson Anderson, but ultimately fell 6-5 on penalty kicks. The team rallied in the Bronze Medal Match, getting a brace from Michael Schmid and goals from Bennett Haas and Tommy Salvi to defeat Mexico 4-0, as well as qualify for this year’s Deaflympics and the 2027 DIFA World Deaf Football Championships in Sydney, Australia.
HISTORY OF THE MEN’S DEAF NATIONAL TEAM
The history of the U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team dates back to 1965 when the side played its first matches at that year’s Deaflympics in Washington, D.C. The Deaf MNT participated in international competition under U.S. Soccer Federation member association USA Deaf Soccer Association until 2022 when, along with the Deaf Women’s National Team and Power Soccer National Team, they became fully-funded programs under Federation’s Extended National Teams.
The Deaf MNT has taken part in eight previous Deaflympics, as well as four DIFA World Deaf Football Championship tournaments and three editions of the Deaf Pan American Games.
The team’s top achievement came at the 2008 World Championships, where the side advanced to the semifinals before falling on penalty kicks to Turkiÿe and ultimately claiming fourth place.
Seventeen players return from the squad that helped the USA claim bronze at the 2024 Deaf Pan American Games in Canoas, Brazil.
Eleven players were part of the U.S. roster at the 2023 World Deaf Football Championships in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Nine players previously represented the USA at the 2022 Deaflympics in Caxias do Sul, Brazil: Braden Anderson, Dawson Anderson, Aidan Burns, Kevin Fitzpatrick, JP Kanashiro, Tate Lancaster, Eddie Perry, Michael Schmid and Raul Silva.
Having recorded his 13th career goal in the 3-1 win against Germany on Oct. 26 in East Hartford, Conn., Michael Schmid now sits just two goals back of Chad Johnson for the Deaf MNT’s all-time scoring lead.
Schmid bagged three of those goals at the 2022 Deaflympics, tallying a brace in the 4-1 win against Iraq and another goal in the 2-0 victory against Mali.
Twenty-year-old Samson Abraham scored his first career goal in the 3-1 win against Germany last month.
Eighteen-year-old goalkeeper Sam Lang made four saves and collected the win in his debut last month against Germany.
Winger Chris Bourdon tallied two assists to earn Man of the Match honors in last month’s friendly.
Tate Lancaster scored his second career goal in the match against Germany.
ABOUT DEAF SOCCER
Out of the five disciplines that make up U.S. Soccer’s ENT programming, Deaf Soccer holds the closest resemblance to the standard game, with only two main rules that differentiate it. First, the sport is contested by Deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes, with qualifying players needing to have a hearing loss of at least 55 decibels in their “better ear.” All players competing in Deaf matches must remove all hearing aids before playing.
Secondly, referees have a flag which they raise along with blowing their whistle to provide a visual cue for players to know when play has stopped. Aside from those two adaptations, Deaf Soccer follows the standard 11-a-side Laws of the Game governed by the International Football Association Board.
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