Cole Bassett Olympics Hopes: Rapids Homegrown Making His Case

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris is next month. The grand event is set to play out on July 26 and will include athletes parading down the iconic River Seine representing 206 national teams, including an International Olympic Committee (IOC) Refugee Team.

The greater U.S. Olympic Team roster will boast a roster of over 500 of America’s finest athletes. It will be one of the largest contingents of Americans to represent this nation in the history of the Games. 

In a matter of weeks, the last trialists will be competing to win one of the few remaining open roster positions on a team. Littleton, Colorado’s Cole John Bassett, included.

The soon-to-turn 23-year-old Colorado Rapid center midfielder is currently in Kansas trying his best to out-hustle 24 invited players to a Team USA’s Men’s Olympic Soccer Team evaluation camp, located in Kansas City. 

The camp’s roster features 19 players with senior USMNT experience, all of whom were hand-picked by head coach, Marko Mitrović.

Bassett first learned of his possible selection via a ‘we need to talk’ text that arrived from one of Mitrović’s trusted assistant coaches right in the middle of the team’s three-game week. 

Next, he received a formal invitation to compete during an upbeat telephone call from the skipper himself. Then, Rapids’ head coach Chris Armas got into the congratulatory dog-pile to let him know that he made the camp’s 25-player invite list.

“I’ve earned the opportunity. A lot of these guys I’ve grown up playing with since I was younger, they’re all good friends, but at the same time, you have to do enough to make the roster and I think you have to do something that separates yourself from the others,” said Bassett during an interview with the Burgundy Wave.

“For me, at least in that midfield position, which is pretty packed, and there’s a lot more guys that aren’t even on this camp roster that I know are probably in consideration or doing well in the seasons.  I feel like I had something different than all of them. You know, everybody’s got their own skill sets, but I feel like a couple of those guys played pretty similarly. I feel like I add a lot.” Bassett explained.

“I can attack and have the ability to drive with the ball that none of those other guys really have. So, I feel like what I’ve done throughout the season is what I need to do when I get into camp. You need different profiles. You need versatility and that’s what I can bring.”

Soon after the Rapid’s last match in Vancouver, British Columbia, and the start of this international break, Bassett bolted off to the Sunflower State to prove he was worthy of a seat on the Olympic Team’s charter aircraft.

A critical component of the evaluation camp will include a friendly against Japan at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas on Tuesday, June 11. It will serve as the final match before Mitrović reads off his roster of 18-players, plus four alternates. 

It has been reported by U.S. Soccer that Mitrović and USMNT head coach, Gregg Berhalter, have been in contact to determine which overage players will not be playing for Berhalter during the upcoming Copa America and Concacaf Nations League tournaments, could play in the Games. Then again, “Some guys can play both America and the Olympic Games,” Mitrović said during his press conference when the camp opened a week ago.

The Men’s Olympic Soccer Tournament is restricted to players under the age of 23, however, the IOC does allow for four overage players to be on the traveling team. 

The U.S. qualified for the Olympics in 2022 when it captured the Concacaf U20 Championship in Honduras. That result, which was heard around the world, qualified the U.S. for its first Men’s Olympic Football Tournament since Beijing 2008. Previously, the team’s best finish to qualify for the Olympics was in 2015. Coloradan’s Dillion Serna and Ethan Horvath were on the roster. 

Regrettably, the team finished in third place, losing to Columbia in the playoff game and failing to win a bid for the second consecutive cycle. Instead, Mexico and Honduras both qualified to play in the 2016 Olympics which were hosted by Brazil.

Soccer has been a part of the Olympic program since France 1900. The tournament served as the sport’s world championship until the launch of the FIFA World Cup in 1930. In 1992, the tournament officially became an under-23 competition. 

The Stars and Stripe’s best finish in the Olympic competition took place in Australia in 2000. Former Rapids’ Conor Casey and Tim Howard led the team to a fourth-place finish in Sydney.

The U.S.’ only Olympic Men’s Soccer medals came in 1904 at the St. Louis Games in Missouri.

As for Bassett, he genuinely hopes to be part of America’s biggest turnaround. With his dedication to develop into an Olympic candidate, plus this country’s investment in both youth and young adult soccer has been without a doubt, impressive.

He made senior national team debut in December of 2021 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he scored the match-winner for his first international goal.

Bassett is surrounded by many champions since he won a choice roster spot with the Rapids Development Academy U16/17 side in 2017.

One of his longest-standing mentors within the Rapids organization, Rapids 2 General Manager and Senior Director of Soccer Development, Brian Crookham, told the Burgundy Wave that Bassett thrives on pressure. You couldn’t tell what he was feeling based on his often calm demeanor. However, his psychological makeup is such that he takes in the pressure and redirects the energy at opportunities that cross his path. Once committed to the task, there is little that can stop him from succeeding.

After the call-up was announced, Rapids head Chris Armas, “It’s tremendous for those fairly young players. The best part is their individual performances have earned them callups. The collective team and the overall performances help those guys get in position to really showcase themselves.” 

Bassett’s fellow midfielder, Djordje Mihailović added, “It’s incredible. For Cole, a chance to go to the Olympics is a great honor. I had that opportunity. My team didn’t make it (to Tokyo 2020). Of course, I’m rooting for him. I hope he gets the call. I think he deserves it. He offers something to that team that is special.” He continued, “His play on the field this season shows he’s deserving of it. I hope he continues what he does with us, what he does with them. If he does that, I don’t see a problem.”

Last November he was named to the United States Men’s Olympic roster ahead of their international friendlies that took place in Pedro del Pinatar, Spain. As a result of being in and out of camps, his last conversation with Mitrović, he was told to accelerate his learning.

“We have such a busy week here (in Denver) with three games. But at the same time, you know, I’ve got stuff to study for. We players need to look at it and just get ready to come into camp, especially knowing the style of play, because it is a little bit different than here. And you want to go in not missing a beat because. We don’t have as much time as we do with the club team. So you got to know what you’re getting into.”

This camp will be boiling over with pressure for Bassett and his midfielder foes. He is going up against the likes of Gianluca Busio (Venezia/ITA), Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami CF), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew), Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split), and Tanner Tessmann (Venezia/ITA). 

Since arriving in Kansas City, Bassett has been showcasing his hallmarks to the coaching staff. He figures that he has a leg up over his competition by offering the staff his emerging leadership, as well as, his confident center midfielder and menacing ways as an attacking winger.

He sees playing different positions as being vital to his chances to make the team’s abridged roster. “You need guys that can play different positions. I think everybody’s seen my best position. This year when I finally got to play it, but you know, last night, I played winger. Playing midfield role, even a six, even a false nine, and sometimes we play that with the US. So, I think the ability to be able to use it in different positions is a plus.”

Bassett has started in all 15 matches for the Burgundy Boys this season and has scored five goals and dished out two assists. His recent peaking performance and utility may just put him over the top and on the roster.

In the middle, his stiffest competition is coming from McGlynn and Busio. At winger, from the likes of Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Brian Gutiérrez (Chicago Fire), and Kevin Paredes (VfL Wolfsburg). 

Could Bassett be Mitrovic’s pick as his all-around upfront utility player?

Bassett thinks so. “I want to go win stuff and I feel like I’m a winner. And I can drive a team with my leadership. So I think that’s the number one overall quality.” He elaborated, “I think the other stuff is what I said before – driving with the ball and goal-scoring from midfield. I think that helps the team a lot. I feel like I can do that. Whereas, the other guys are maybe more just possession-based and keep the ball for the team. I feel like I can do that in a game and more.”

The Yanks’ U-23 team will face off with their Olympic-bound counterparts – Japan, at 7 pm MT in Children’s Mercy Park. The match will be streamed on UNIVERSO and FuboTV.

Photo Credit: John Babiak

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