Gabriel Slonina commits to the US national team over Poland: ‘My heart is American,’ the Chicago Fire goalie says

Chicago Fire goalkeeper and Addison native Gabriel Slonina has picked his international future — at least for the time being.

Slonina on Friday announced on social media he is committing to the U.S. men’s national team for international soccer. The highly touted goalkeeper was eligible to play for Poland, which earlier this week called him up to its camp.

“I love everything about my heritage, from the people to the food to the cities,” Slonina, 18, said in the announcement. “I am also extremely grateful for being given the possibility to play for Poland.

“With that being said, my heart is American. This country has given me and my family all the opportunities I could ask for. … I understand the privilege of wearing the badge, and the only time I’ll put my head down is to kiss it. America is home and that’s who I’m going to represent.”

Slonina told the Tribune last year that choosing between the countries would be a difficult choice — one that most dual-nationals grip with.

“I have a lot of family in Poland but I also grew up my whole life in the USA,” said Slonina, whose parents emigrated from Tarnów. “It’s going to be a tough one but it’s going to have to be made.”

While the news might be exciting to American soccer fans, it’s worth noting that Slonina’s commitment to the U.S. is not set in stone.

Per FIFA eligibility rules, Slonina can still switch to Poland as long as he does not make more than three appearances for the U.S. before he turns 21. Appearing even once in a World Cup or CONCACAF final competition would make him ineligible to switch, but playing in a tournament qualifier would not.

Slonina, whom some believe to be U.S. goalkeeper of the future, was not included in coach Gregg Berhalter’s squad for June matches.

The announcement Friday came after a tough run of games for Slonina, who recently committed a handful of costly errors for the Fire, winless in their last eight Major League Soccer matches. Against the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday, Slonina let a shot slip through his hands for a goal. At Soldier Field on Saturday, a giveaway led to FC Cincinnati’s game-winning goal.

Slonina on Thursday acknowledged the errors, posting on social media that is was “awful feeling like (you’re) letting everyone down.”

Fire coach Ezra Hendrickson was quick to point out that mistakes are part of the game, especially for a young goalkeeper, and that club still strongly believes in Slonina.

“He’s an 18-year-old kid,” Hendrickson told reporters Wednesday night. “He’s a bit inexperienced. But he’s a mentally tough kid, and he’s made a couple mistakes now in the past couple games but he’s still our No. 1.

“As far as what we need to do, we just need to put our arms around him, let him know we’re still confident in him because he’s our goalkeeper and he’s a very good goalkeeper at that. It’s just sometimes players go through situations like this and he’s just got to find his way out of it and especially in that position. … We’ll help him as a group to get past this game and to get past these couple blunders. But he’s our goalkeeper, he’s our No. 1. There’s no doubt about that.”