21-year-old soccer players Kevin Paredes and Griffin Yow, who started their careers at D.C. United before moving to Europe, have been selected to represent the U.S. at the Paris Olympics. As part of the 18-man squad, they will be competing in the first Summer Games since 2008. Despite FIFA not requiring clubs to release players for the Olympics, both players secured permission to join the national team. The U.S. team, coached by Marko Mitrovic, includes eight European-based players and three over-age selections from MLS teams. Paredes and Yow will join the team in Bordeaux for training before facing France, New Zealand, and Guinea in group play starting July 24. With the hope of advancing to the quarterfinals, the U.S. team aims to build on past Olympic success and make their mark in the tournament restricted to players 23 and under.