Courtesy of the Washington Post and CT Insider
Jan. 21, 2025

How Patrick Agyemang rose from D-III soccer to the USMNT

In his first appearance for the national program at any level, Agyemang started and scored the second U.S. goal Saturday during a 3-1 victory over Venezuela. WATCH   [Agyemang scored again on Wednesday, Jan. 22 in an international friendly in a 3-0 win over Costa Rica in Orlando) WATCH


ORLANDO -- East Hartford native Patrick Agyemang, [a USC All-America player under head coach Greg DeVito at Eastern Connecticut State University in 2019], was 9 when he found his seat at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, to watch the U.S. men's national soccer team play one of its final tune-ups for the 2010 World Cup.

He lived a few minutes from the stadium in a working-class home the family called "the Headquarters" — the place where he and his two brothers, parents and friends enjoyed most of their time together.

With his participation and passion in the sport swelling, Patrick couldn't wait for kickoff against the Czech Republic. He stared out and saw Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan and other stars pass through the players' tunnel and in that moment tried seeing himself someday making that walk in U.S. colors.

"It's funny, because I still kind of remember how I felt," he said Tuesday. "It was a sense of excitement, and I was like: 'This is where I want to be. I don't know how, but I would love to be on that field, to play for the country and be able to know that my parents [someday] could come to this game and watch me.'"

Almost 15 years have passed, and Agyemang is in a U.S. uniform — not preparing for a World Cup but making gains with the national team after climbing the ladder as a relative unknown from NCAA Division III to Division I, to MLS's developmental league, then to MLS with Charlotte FC, where last year he made the league minimum ($71,401).

In his first appearance for the national program at any level, Agyemang started and scored the second U.S. goal Saturday during a 3-1 victory over Venezuela in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Americans will close winter camp Wednesday against Costa Rica at Orlando's Inter&Co Stadium.

With camp falling outside the international calendar — and Europe-based players unavailable — Coach Mauricio Pochettino's primary objective is providing opportunity for domestic-based prospects and building depth as the 2026 World Cup draws closer.

Agyemang (pronounced Aaw-jee-mawn) earned his place this month after scoring a team-best 10 goals in MLS last year. On Saturday, the 24-year-old forward was among eight players to make their U.S. debut.

"There was a level of uncertainty, just because I've never been in an environment like this," Agyemang said of his first camp. "I just wanted to come in being myself, completely myself, and showing it on and off the field. I think I was able to do that, but the guys and the coaching staff made it way more easy than I expected and just made it an experience I won't forget."

Agile and 6-foot-4, Agyemang displayed qualities in the open field and on set pieces Saturday. He drew a penalty kick less than two minutes into the match — Matko Miljevic failed to convert — and proved dangerous on the counterattack.

"I think he can be very, very, very useful," Pochettino said. "He's still young, still has room to improve. … I am so happy with him. His performance was really good. He's capable to add [something] different to the team that sometimes we were missing a little bit. It's a very good alternative."

Over the years, the U.S. program has employed tall center backs and goalkeepers but few towering forwards. Agyemang sprouted five inches before his junior year in high school and kept growing. "He's apparently 6-4, but I think he's like 6-6," said U.S. left back DeJuan Jones, who has played against Agyemang in MLS. "He's got the height — tough to mark on corners, for sure — and then he's very quick and agile, and his holdup play is nice as well. It's nice to be on his team for once. One to watch out for."

Agyemang's journey began a few miles outside Hartford, the Connecticut capital. His parents emigrated from Ghana and juggled multiple jobs while raising three children. Soccer was central to their upbringing with neighborhood games, school teams and youth leagues.

During World Cups, family and friends gathered to watch the Black Stars, Ghana's national team. In 2006, 2010 and 2014, the United States and Ghana faced each other at the World Cup, with the Black Stars winning the first two.

"I remember 2010 I was actually at one of my teammates' house," Agyemang said. "We were having a pool party. All the parents were in the living room. Whoever scores, they'll scream, then the other group will scream. It was a lot because it was a diverse place. I think I was rooting for both."

At East Hartford High, Agyemang was an All-CCC in soccer with 17 goals and 12 assists as a senior. He was a two-time all-state in indoor track selection and was all-state in boys volleyball. Agyemang graduated from East Hartford in 2018 and continued his soccer career at Eastern, where he played for two seasons and totaled 30 goals with 10 assists in 39 games. He then transferred to the University of Rhode Island where he scored 19 goals with 12 assists in 33 career games over three seasons. 

Despite excelling for his high school and club, he did not receive any offers from NCAA Division I or II programs. He landed at Eastern Connecticut State and competed in the Little East Conference with Division III schools from around New England. Agyemang was the league's rookie of the year in 2018 and, after posting 21 goals and seven assists, its offensive player of the year and a third-team all-American. (His brother Emmanuel was the conference's defensive player of the year.)

Drawing attention from Division I programs, Agyemang transferred [after two seasons at Eastern]  to the University of Rhode Island, where he recorded 19 goals and 12 assists in 37 matches over three seasons. In the 2023 MLS SuperDraft, Charlotte traded up to No. 12 overall to claim him. In his rookie season, Agyemang split time between MLS and MLS Next Pro, a third-division developmental league, where he scored 10 goals in 12 matches.

Last season, playing exclusively with the first team, Agyemang had 10 goals and five assists in 31 regular season appearances, including 19 starts. His goal tally ranked fourth among U.S. players in MLS — exploits that could soon earn him a raise or opportunities abroad. (Charlotte has a contract option in 2026.)

Following Wednesday's friendly, Agyemang will report to Charlotte training camp and aim to continue his ascent in MLS and U.S. circles.

"I want to take this momentum and bring it into MLS because this opportunity has opened a whole 'nother set for myself in terms of skill, focus, concentration and level of play," he said. "I want to really thrive this year. The league is going to know I'm here."