Top Stories

FIFA approves Green’s request to play for USMNT

Julian GreenPhoto by ISIPhotos.com

By CAITLIN MURRAY

It is now official: Julian Green can play for the U.S. Men’s National Team.

FIFA has approved Green’s change of association application, making him eligible to play for USMNT immediately, according to a tweet by U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati. The approval clears the way for Green to make his debut for the USMNT when they play Mexico April 2 in Arizona.

Green had filed a one-time switch last week, choosing to play for the U.S. instead of Germany, where he grew up. Green, an 18-year-old winger who made his Bayern Munich debut earlier this season, had trained with the USMNT and was courted heavily by U.S. Soccer in recent months to make the switch.

“We are obviously thrilled,” USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann said in a statement. “We appreciate FIFA’s effort in getting his paperwork approved, and are excited to have him on board for the game against Mexico on April 2.”

Since 2009, FIFA has allowed a one-time change in national team affiliation for players who had previously played for a different national team in unofficial matches or in youth national team competitions if they held dual citizenship. Jermaine Jones and Fabian Johnson are other current U.S. Men’s National Team players to successfully file one-time switch applications.

—–

What do you think of this development? Excited to see what Green can do with the USMNT? Hoping he starts against Mexico? Think he has a realistic chance of making the U.S. World Cup team?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Slowleftarm

    FYI, if you feel like it read the whole, rather long article.

    http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/03/julian-green-jerry-green-usmnt-germany/

    “And what of the question of American identity? Does Julian think of himself as an American or a German?

    “I don’t know what that really means,” says his father. “Julian grew up, as far as day-to-day routine, in Germany…but he also was here, every year of his life. And when he was here, he was acting like any other red-blooded American kid.”

    Jerry Green also had a little story about his two sons. When they were younger, he recalls, the older Justin (who was born in Germany, but attended high school in the states) would poke fun at his brother when young Julian forgot an English word.

    “Julian would get very defensive when his brother would make fun of [his English],” his father said. “So Julian would say to his brother, ‘Yeah, well, I was born in America and you weren’t. I’m from Tampa and you’re not. You’re German. I’m an American.’””

    Reply
  2. There are still some matches to go to see if Green gets on the plane. Only the staff and players know how he matched up with the others that were in the training sessions a few weeks ago. The one exciting thing for me is if he can bring some pace to get in behind especially as the matches open up in the 2nd half.

    Long term, let’s see how he develops without anointing him our savior.

    Reply

Leave a Comment