Midfielder Tanner Tessmann Replaces Ulysses Llanez on USA Roster For Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship
Tessmann Has Been Training as Alternate with Team in Guadalajara Ahead of Tournament
CHICAGO (March 18, 2021) – U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team midfielder Ulysses Llanez has been ruled out of the Concacaf Men’s Olympic Qualifying Championship due to an ankle injury.
After Concacaf granted U.S. Soccer’s request to have Llanez replaced, FC Dallas midfielder Tanner Tessmann has been added to the 20-player roster for Olympic qualifying.
Tournament rules allow for the replacement of an injured player up to the day prior to the team’s opening match.
Tessmann has been practicing with the team in Guadalajara since March 1, initially as part of the 28-player training camp to prepare for Olympic qualifying and then as an alternate for the 20-man final roster.
An Alabama native, Tessmann made his senior USMNT debut in the team’s January friendly against Trinidad and Tobago. He was with the U-23 USMNT for its January training camp alongside the full team before being promoted along with 15 other U-23 players for the match.
The 20-year-old midfielder enjoyed a breakout rookie season for FC Dallas last year, making 21 appearances after opting to go pro rather than play soccer and football at Clemson University. A product of the renowned FC Dallas youth set-up in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, Tessmann won the Golden Ball as the best player in the 2019 U-18/19 Academy Playoffs as he helped his team reach the championship match.