Birmingham native Tanner Tessmannn will compete in the Paris Olympics with the United States Men’s Olympic Soccer Team.
A regular contributor for U.S. Soccer, Tessmann was officially named to the U.S. Olympic team on Monday. A defensive midfielder, Tessmann plays professionally for Venice-based Italian soccer club Venezia FC. Most recently, 22-year-old Tessmann played a major role in helping Venezia earn promotion into Serie A, Italy’s top division for professional soccer.
Opening Ceremonies for the Paris Games are Friday, July 26, but Tessmann and the U.S. Men’s Olympic Soccer Team begin their Olympic competition on Wednesday, July 24, with a game against host country France. The U.S. and France kickoff at 2 p.m. CT from Marseille Stadium. The U.S. men are in Group A along with France, New Zealand and Guinea. The U.S. men take on New Zealand on Saturday, July 27, and Guinea on Tuesday, July 30.
The U.S. Women’s Olympic Soccer Team, which won bronze at the 2020 Summer Olympics, start group play at 2 p.m. CT on Thursday, July 25, with an opening game against Zambia from Nice Stadium. The U.S. women are in Group B along with Zambia, Germany and Australia. The U.S women play Germany at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday, July 28, and finish their group stage against Australia at noon CT on Wednesday, July 31.
The U.S. men failed to qualify for the 2020, 2016 and 2012 Summer Olympics, which means Tessmann was seven years old the last time a U.S. men’s team played in the Olympics. The U.S. was eliminated in the group stage of the 2008 Beijing Games.
Tessmann is the godson of Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney. Swinney offered Tessmann a scholarship to kick for Clemson, but Tessmann instead chose to pursue his lifelong dream of playing pro soccer. Tessmann played youth soccer in Alabama for Birmingham United Soccer Association before moving to Dallas as a 14-year-old to play for FC Dallas Academy.