Paredes (South Riding) and Yow (Clifton) have been part of the youth selection for some time. But because the football association FIFA does not require clubs to release players for the Olympics, Paredes needed permission from Wolfsburg in the German Bundesliga and Yow from the Belgian club Westerlo to join the American selection.
They report to training camp in Bordeaux, France this week. The group stage begins on July 24 against France in Marseille, followed by New Zealand on July 27 in Marseille and Guinea on July 30 in Saint-Etienne. Two advance to the quarterfinals.
Since the age limit was introduced in 1992, the U.S. men have only advanced past the group stage at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where they finished fourth.
All but three of the US players drafted have played for the national team.
Paredes and Yow were among eight European-based players selected by coach Marko Mitrovic. Last season — his second full campaign in Germany since United signed him for a club-record $7.35 million in January 2022 — Paredes scored three goals in 28 league games (15 starts).
This summer he was a candidate for the Copa América selection, made up of the best players of the national team, but coach Gregg Berhalter decided to keep him for the Olympic Games.
Yow, who moved to Belgium in July 2022, has scored seven goals in 28 league games this season (25 of which as a starter).
The other 10 American players Mitrovic invited come from MLS teams, including all three selections who are over 18 years old: center backs Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC) and Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati) and midfielder Djordje Mihailovic (Colorado Rapids).
Several players Mitrovic targeted — age-related and overage — were not released by their respective clubs. He was expected to discuss that issue, and others, with reporters Monday afternoon.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Goalkeepers: Gabriel Slonina (Chelsea), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew).
Defenders: Maximilian Dietz (Greuther Fürth), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC).
Midfielders: Gianluca Busio (Venice), Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union), Djordje Mihailovic (Colorado Rapids), Tanner Tessmann (Venice).
Forward: Paxten Aaronson (Utrecht), Taylor Booth (Utrecht), Duncan McGuire (Orlando City), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg), Griffin Yow (Westerlo).
Alternatives: GK John Pulskamp (Sporting Kansas City), D Jacob Davis (Sporting Kansas City), MF Josh Atencio (Seattle Sounders), F Johan Gomez (Eintracht Braunschweig).