Zavier Gozo earns first US cap after Crystal Palace move

Zavier Gozo has added a senior United States debut to his first appearances for Crystal Palace following his move from Real Salt Lake, according to a Guardian interview published on Friday. The forward played nearly half an hour against Peru during the latest international window, having missed out on Mauricio Pochettino's 26-player World Cup squad in May.

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Gozo has made three appearances as a substitute for Palace across all competitions, including his introduction to Premier League football. The move has also taken him away from Utah, where he had spent his life before relocating to London. At Palace and with the national team, he has joined fellow American Chris Richards, who arrived at the English club in 2022.

Speaking to the Guardian, Gozo identified Palace's record of developing attacking players as an important reason for choosing the club. He had followed Richards' progress and was familiar with former Palace winger Wilfried Zaha. He also pointed to the club's recent trophies, while participation in the Europa League provides further opportunities to compete for playing time across multiple competitions.

The change has brought a different role from the one Gozo held at Real Salt Lake. He told the newspaper that moving from being one of his previous team's leading players to competing at Palace could challenge his confidence. He said the coaching staff were committed to developing him, but acknowledged that he was still learning how to make an impact against opponents who give him less freedom.

Gozo identified using his body more effectively as a particular area for improvement, including protecting possession and drawing fouls. He also highlighted the need to make sharper decisions about taking one or two touches, turning or dribbling. Those adjustments follow his early experience of a faster game in England, with defenders receiving greater support and less space available around the penalty area.

His United States appearance came during a window in which 12 players made their senior debuts, including fellow wingers Cavan Sullivan and Mathis Albert. Gozo featured in one of the team's four friendlies. He was also one of five members of the 2025 US Under-20 World Cup squad to debut during the window, bringing existing youth-team connections into the senior group.