Gianluca Busio debuts with the USMNT during Gold Cup win
Sporting Kansas City player Gianluca Busio finally made his senior United States men’s national team debut during their 2021 Gold Cup opener against Haiti on Monday night.
The American side triumphed 1-0 over the Caribbean nation with an early goal from Sam Vines before switching to a defensive strategy. The MLS midfielder became the second youngest player to feature for the United States in the Gold Cup.
During the match, Busio didn't disappoint USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter. The Sporting Kansas City player completed 28 of his 31 passes (90 percent), according to Stats Perform data. He also made several defensive interventions to maintain the 1-0 lead for the USMNT.
Three points, three #USMNT debuts!
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) July 12, 2021
Congrats @gbusio13, @jamessands_16 & @erykw19 on earning their first caps in our @GoldCup opener ? pic.twitter.com/4YUXdMQoWG
“It was a really special feeling for me,” said Busio postgame. “I thought it was really a good game for me to get into, get used to Concacaf. It was a little chippy, but I'm happy we get away with the win, and to do it in front of my home crowd, that was really, really big for me.
The teenager has worked his way into the limelight after debuting for Sporting Kansas City at the age of 16 in 2018. He first arrived in Kansas in 2016 to join Sporting’s academy, where he quickly established himself as a figure to watch. Current head coach Peter Vermes tracked the player’s progress before calling him up to the first team and predicting his stardom. Before departing to camp, Vermes expressed his excitement over Busio’s call-up.
“It’s a deserving call-up for him,” Vermes said. “He’s played incredibly well. I think his progression over the last couple of years has been fantastic. I can’t say enough about his attitude; I can’t say enough about his maturity for his age."
Since 2018, Busio has appeared 61 times for Sporting Kansas City, recording seven goals and eight assists throughout his time. He has scored twice this season, winning MLS Goal of the Week on one occasion for a phenomenal free kick against the Houston Dynamo.
His involvement in the team’s success has sparked transfer rumors, inspiring reports to mention European interest. Though the player maintained that his focus remains on the Gold Cup, his young age and determination makes Busio the perfect candidate for any team abroad.