CHICAGO & LONDON (March 15, 2024) – New England Revolution midfielders Esmir Bajraktarević and Noel Buck have both earned national team call-ups for the FIFA international window this month. After Sunday’s MLS regular season home match between the Revolution and FC Cincinnati at Gillette Stadium (2:00 p.m. ET), Bajraktarević will join the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team for an upcoming training camp and friendlies against Guinea and France, while Buck will join the England Under-19 Men’s National Team for two matches against Morocco and the USA U-19s.
Bajraktarević earns another call-up to the U.S. Men’s Olympic Soccer Team for its upcoming training camp and matches as preparations continue for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The USA will face Guinea on Friday, March 22 at Nou Estadi Municipal in Olot, Spain, before playing France on Monday, March 25 at 3:00 p.m. ET at Stade Bonal in Montbéliard, France. The Men’s Olympic Team, making its first appearance in the Olympics since 2008, will provide some of the nation’s top young talent the opportunity to compete for a medal and face elite opposition on the world stage this summer. The Men’s Olympic Soccer Tournament is restricted to players under the age of 23, with an allowance for three overage players.
Buck and the England Under-19 Men’s National Team are poised to play a pair of international matches in North Africa. The Young Lions will face hosts Morocco at Fat’h Union Sport FUS Stadium in Rabat on Thursday, March 21 (4:00 p.m. ET), before a meeting with the United States Under-19s on Sunday, March 24 (7:00 a.m. ET) at Complexe Mohammed Vi de Football in Salé, Morocco.
Bajraktarević, 19, has been capped once by the U.S. senior team, appearing as a substitute against Slovenia earlier this year after participating in January Camp. With the U.S. U-23s, the Wisconsin-born midfielder has scored once in four appearances in the run-up to this summer’s Olympics. This season with the Revolution, Bajraktarević has made three league appearances with two starts, adding one goal with one assist in four 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup games. For his MLS career, the third-year pro owns 19 MLS appearances and eight starts.
Buck, 18, is in his third MLS season with 35 career regular season appearances and 25 starts, with four goals and two assists. In 2024, he has played in all seven games to open the season, starting twice in MLS play. The Arlington, Mass. native and Revolution Academy product, who is eligible to play for both the United States and England, has earned six appearances with the England U-19s, scoring one goal.
The New England Revolution are at home on Sunday, March 17 for a meeting with FC Cincinnati, 2:00 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium. Watch every MLS match this weekend free on the Apple TV app in English or Spanish. Listen to the local radio call on 98.5 The Sports Hub (WBZ-FM) and 1260 AM Nossa Radio (Portuguese).
