Austin FC won’t join MLS until the 2021 season, but the incoming club will have some representation when the United States begins their 2020 Tokyo Olympics qualifying campaign.
The club announced Sunday evening that head coach Josh Wolff will help US Under-23 head coach Jason Kreis navigate Concacaf qualifying in Guadalajara, Mexico from March 20 to April 1. Wolff, the owner of 52 caps and nine goals for the senior squad, has previously served as an assistant coach under USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter.
The team will have plenty of MLS influence, too, with 15 MLS players part of the 20-man roster as led by trios from Real Salt Lake, FC Dallas and the Philadelphia Union. They’ll be looking to help the US qualify for their first Olympics since 2008 after they missed out on the 2012 and 2016 versions.
For Wolff, the Olympics opportunity could serve as an opportunity to identify potential Austin FC players. He’ll eventually lead a team that sporting director Claudio Reyna assembles, though no first-team players are yet signed.
“I was in Colombia for the U-23 Conmebol tournament, I’ll be part of watching the Concacaf (Olympic) qualifying as well," Wolff previously told MLSsoccer.com at MLS Media Day. "Looking for young players, international players and obviously very mindful as MLS starts, which players will be available next year.”
