Orlando City defender Michael Halliday and the United States U-20 Men’s National Team have finished the job, qualifying the U.S. for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and then winning the CONCACAF U-20 Championship this past weekend.
Halliday started and played all 90 minutes as the U.S. ran rampant over host nation Honduras in the semifinal last Friday night. Philadelphia Union’s Paxten Aaronson put the Americans up early with a third-minute goal, and FC Vizela midfielder Alejandro Alvarado Jr. doubled the lead in the 22nd minute. Aaronson’s Union teammate Quinn Sullivan capped the surge with a goal two minutes shy of halftime to make it 3-0 at the break. The U.S. would cruise from there to reach their first Olympics since 2008 in Beijing.
The final against the Dominican Republic was merely a ceremonial game after the high stakes of the quarters (with qualification to the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia on the line) and semis. Head Coach Mikey Varas rotated several of his reserves into the game, which came less than 48 hours after the semifinal triumph over Honduras, and Halliday did not make it into the game, which ended 6-0 in the Americans’ favor.
Halliday was a key piece of the puzzle for Varas over the course of the tournament. He featured in all three group stage matches, starting the middle game against Canada (the U.S.’s highest-profile group stage opponent) and playing the second half in the other two. The Orlando Homegrown then started each of the Americans’ first three knockout matches, including the two major qualifying games.
Halliday has returned to Orlando and will be available for selection for this Saturday’s derby game against Inter Miami CF.
