The U.S. Men’s Senior National Team (Over-40) will host a final training camp in preparation for the 18th Senior’s World Cup at North Augusta Riverview Park May 22-27.
David Jones, the team’s coach and a Graniteville resident, said he is looking forward to the training camp and glad to build local relationships.
“We have established great partnerships between Augusta Bulls Rush Soccer Club and North Augusta Parks and Rec,” said Jones.
Jones came to the United States about 25 years ago and has played soccer at the highest level for 16 years. When Jones was 36, he joined the U.S. Army and was active duty for eight years. He coached the All Army and Armed Forces Men’s and Women’s team at the military Olympics and World Cup. After living in Florida, Jones moved to Graniteville about three years ago.
In the 10 years since Jones left the military, he’s continued his coaching career, serving as the head coach for American Samoa’s U19 and Senior Men’s Teams, leading both teams to the 2025 U20 World Cup and the 2026 World Cup qualifying tournaments in 2024.
Last season, Jones coached as the U.S. competed in its first Senior World Cup in six years. While there is always much excitement to compete, challenges have come along the way.
“We had to start essentially a brand-new legacy program with zero. No players. No money, no nothing, realizing would be self-funded and self-sufficient,” Jones said. “We put a squad together going to a training camp in Hawaii last year and went to Thailand for the tournament. We played against teams like England, Australia, New Zealand, and all these other national teams that the official soccer association or federation support, and we couldn’t even wear our logo.”
Other challenges included a lot of travel and a few injuries right before training camp that left a limited roster.
“We decided this year we will going be really focused on player recruitment this year and make sure we brought more players to training camp just in case,” Jones said. “We went to Hawaii last year, and it was just a lot of travel. I live here so it has been easier for a logistical standpoint.”
Despite the obstacles, Jones said he and the team are excited to represent the U.S. in the Senior World Cup.
“Ultimately you want support from your national federation and be recognized at some level to insure you can go in and represent your country in the best light, and we are going to do that anyway, regardless of anything else,” Jones said. “No one is going to take away the fact these players, staff and everyone else, for a second year, have gone and represented the United States.”
The U.S. Men’s Senior National Team (Over-40) will be in North Augusta from May 22-27 making final cuts before players head off to Thailand for the Senior World Cup.
“We have felt pretty confident in the recruitment and felt like we have had the strongest team we have had so far, “Jones said. “Now I have got to reduce the players 32 down to 25 bringing them in to camp.”
Jones said this tournament is unique and he has to be strategic.
“You have to have three 40–44-year-olds, four 45–49-year-olds and three 50-year-olds on the field at all times,” Jones said. “A player might be a good player but not fit in the logistical puzzle piece we have to put together.”
The U.S. Men’s Senior National Team (Over-40) will compete in an exhibition game against the Fort Gordon Ballers FC at Lions Memorial Field on Saturday, May 23 at 7 p.m. They will also play the Augusta Soccer Team on Sunday, May 24, at 4 p.m.
Boys and Girls ages 7-18 will have an opportunity to compete and elevate their skill as the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team will host a three-day soccer camp at Riverview Park Hammond Ferry Field Complex May 23-25.
“We have had a really good response and given out over 1500 tickets for the game on Saturday against Fort Gordon,” Jones said.
Jones also said they have had more than 50 kids register for the camp and is hopeful for an overall great experience.
“It may be players they might not recognize necessarily, but it is a 40-year-old playing at the very highest level and it will hopefully inspire them that the game of soccer doesn’t die no matter how old you are,” Jones said. “We want them going away talking about how much of a great experience it was.”
After the training camp, the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team (Over-40) will travel to Thailand to compete in the 18th Senior’s World Cup on June 1-6.
Sportswriter Christopher Rickerson is an Augusta University graduate who has covered area sports for publications including Augusta University‘s Bell Ringer, The Augusta Press and Augusta Good News. Subscribe to the Augusta Good News’ free weekly newsletter here.
