Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Payne Tabbed U.S. Under-21 Men’s National Team Head Coach
3/20/2026 10:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Fifth-year Wildcat head coach to serve in role for two FIFA international windows
EVANSTON, Ill. (March 20, 2026) – Northwestern head men's soccer coach Russell Payne has been named head coach of the United States Under-21 Men's National Team, it was announced on Friday. Payne will assume the head role for the March and June FIFA international windows.
"I am honored to lead this group in the early stages of the Olympic cycle," Payne commented. "This team has promising building blocks and our goal for the next period is to continue to build a culture of togetherness and intensity that will be on display through our play."
Payne will get his start with the U-21 side when he leads a 20-player roster through a training camp in Cheonan-si, South Korea, March 23-31. The eight-day stay will feature matchups against Japan (U-21) on March 27 and Korea Republic (U-23) on March 31.
No stranger to the U.S. Men's National Team, Payne most recently served as an assistant coach for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, where he helped guide the Stars & Stripes to their first knockout round berth in 24 years. He was also a member of the coaching staff that led the United States to the 2023 Concacaf Nations League title, in addition to coaching in the Concacaf Gold Cup during the same year.
Payne piloted Northwestern to an 8-6-3 overall finish in 2025, the program's third straight winning campaign. The 'Cats finished with a 6-2-2 mark at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, a ledger that included a comprehensive 2-0 win over No. 17 Indiana on October 31.
Since his arrival in Evanston prior to the 2021 season, Payne has mentored nine All-Big Ten Conference honorees and six United Soccer Coaches All-North Region selections. Following the 2024 season, Collin McCamy became the seventh student-athlete in program history to be selected in the Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft, going 54th overall to New York City FC. Payne's track record of sending players to the professional ranks continued after this past season, with Joe Suchecki (New York City FC II), Nigel Prince (Huntsville City FC), and Jayvin Van Deventer (Huntsville City FC) all inking professional deals.
"I am honored to lead this group in the early stages of the Olympic cycle," Payne commented. "This team has promising building blocks and our goal for the next period is to continue to build a culture of togetherness and intensity that will be on display through our play."
Leading the Stars and Stripes ????@keepruss will serve as head coach of the U.S. Under-21 Men's National Team during the March and June FIFA International windows. pic.twitter.com/haR6cRvKsy
— Northwestern Men's Soccer (@NUMensSoccer) March 20, 2026
Payne will get his start with the U-21 side when he leads a 20-player roster through a training camp in Cheonan-si, South Korea, March 23-31. The eight-day stay will feature matchups against Japan (U-21) on March 27 and Korea Republic (U-23) on March 31.
No stranger to the U.S. Men's National Team, Payne most recently served as an assistant coach for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, where he helped guide the Stars & Stripes to their first knockout round berth in 24 years. He was also a member of the coaching staff that led the United States to the 2023 Concacaf Nations League title, in addition to coaching in the Concacaf Gold Cup during the same year.
Payne piloted Northwestern to an 8-6-3 overall finish in 2025, the program's third straight winning campaign. The 'Cats finished with a 6-2-2 mark at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, a ledger that included a comprehensive 2-0 win over No. 17 Indiana on October 31.
Since his arrival in Evanston prior to the 2021 season, Payne has mentored nine All-Big Ten Conference honorees and six United Soccer Coaches All-North Region selections. Following the 2024 season, Collin McCamy became the seventh student-athlete in program history to be selected in the Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft, going 54th overall to New York City FC. Payne's track record of sending players to the professional ranks continued after this past season, with Joe Suchecki (New York City FC II), Nigel Prince (Huntsville City FC), and Jayvin Van Deventer (Huntsville City FC) all inking professional deals.
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