Tim Ream named USMNT captain for World Cup: 'The leader that we want'
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Tim Ream named USMNT captain for World Cup: 'The leader that we want'
Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
·
2 min read
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The U.S. men's national team has chosen their captain forthe 2026 World Cup.
USMNTcoach Mauricio Pochettino announced at a May 30 news conference thatTim Ream, a 38-year-old defender who plays for MLS'Charlotte FC, will wear the captain's armband during theWorld Cup.
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"I am so grateful that he is with us,"Pochettino told reporters. "He is a great captain not only on the field, but more importantly off the field. He has the experience and capacity to be the leader that we want."
1930- Uruguay defeats Argentina 4-2 in the first World Cup event held in Uruguay.
(AFP via Getty Images)
1934- Italy over Czechoslovakia 2-1.
(Keystone, Getty Images)
1938- Italy defeats Hungary 4-2. The World Cup would not be played again until 1950 because of the Second World War.
(AFP via Getty Images)
1950- Uruguay wins it's second World Cup with a 2-1 win over Brazil.
(AFP via Getty Images)
1954- Germany wins 3-2 over Hungary.
(Keystone, Getty Images)
1958- Brazil celebrates by running with the flag of Sweden after defeating them 5-2.
(Keystone, Getty Images)
1962- Brazil 3-1 over Czechoslovakia.
(Keystone, Getty Images)
1966- England defeats Germany 4-2 in England.
(Keystone, Getty Images)
1970- Brazil wins 4-1 over Italy in Mexico.
(Action Images / Sporting Picture via Reuters)
1974- Germany wins at home in Munich over Netherlands, 2-1.
(AFP via Getty Images)
1978- Argentina wins it's first World Cup 3-1 over Netherlands in Argentina.
(AFP via Getty Images)
1982- Italy wins it's third championship over Germany 3-1.
(Action Images / Sporting Picture via Reuters)
1986- Argentina wins over Germany 3-2.
(AFP via Getty Images)
1990- Germany gets revenge on Argentina 1-0.
(Tom Szlukovenyi, Reuters)
1994- Brazil defeats Italy 3-2 in penalties in Pasadena, Calif.
(MIKE NELSON, AFP via Getty Images)
1998- France wins it's first cup over Brazil, 3-0.
(PATRICK HERTZOG, AFP via Getty Images)
2002- Brazil defeats Germany, 2-0.
(ANTONIO SCORZA, AFP via Getty Images)
2006- Italy beats France 5-3 in penalties.
(PATRIK STOLLARZ, AFP via Getty Images)
2010- Spain defeats Netherlands 1-0 in South Africa.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)
2018- France 4-2 over Croatia.
(ALEXANDER NEMENOV, AFP via Getty Images)
2022- Argentina wins it's third World Cup defeating France 4-2 in penalties.
(ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT, AFP via Getty Images)
1/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
1930- Uruguay defeats Argentina 4-2 in the first World Cup event held in Uruguay.
(AFP via Getty Images)
1/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
1930- Uruguay defeats Argentina 4-2 in the first World Cup event held in Uruguay.
(AFP via Getty Images)
2/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
1934- Italy over Czechoslovakia 2-1.
(Keystone, Getty Images)
3/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
1938- Italy defeats Hungary 4-2. The World Cup would not be played again until 1950 because of the Second World War.
(AFP via Getty Images)
4/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
1950- Uruguay wins it's second World Cup with a 2-1 win over Brazil.
(AFP via Getty Images)
5/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
1954- Germany wins 3-2 over Hungary.
(Keystone, Getty Images)
6/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
1958- Brazil celebrates by running with the flag of Sweden after defeating them 5-2.
(Keystone, Getty Images)
7/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
1962- Brazil 3-1 over Czechoslovakia.
(Keystone, Getty Images)
8/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
1966- England defeats Germany 4-2 in England.
(Keystone, Getty Images)
9/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
1970- Brazil wins 4-1 over Italy in Mexico.
(Action Images / Sporting Picture via Reuters)
10/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
1974- Germany wins at home in Munich over Netherlands, 2-1.
(AFP via Getty Images)
11/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
1978- Argentina wins it's first World Cup 3-1 over Netherlands in Argentina.
(AFP via Getty Images)
12/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
1982- Italy wins it's third championship over Germany 3-1.
(Action Images / Sporting Picture via Reuters)
13/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
1986- Argentina wins over Germany 3-2.
(AFP via Getty Images)
14/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
1990- Germany gets revenge on Argentina 1-0.
(Tom Szlukovenyi, Reuters)
15/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
1994- Brazil defeats Italy 3-2 in penalties in Pasadena, Calif.
(MIKE NELSON, AFP via Getty Images)
16/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
1998- France wins it's first cup over Brazil, 3-0.
(PATRICK HERTZOG, AFP via Getty Images)
17/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
2002- Brazil defeats Germany, 2-0.
(ANTONIO SCORZA, AFP via Getty Images)
18/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
2006- Italy beats France 5-3 in penalties.
(PATRIK STOLLARZ, AFP via Getty Images)
19/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
2010- Spain defeats Netherlands 1-0 in South Africa.
(ROBERTO SCHMIDT, AFP via Getty Images)
20/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
2018- France 4-2 over Croatia.
(ALEXANDER NEMENOV, AFP via Getty Images)
21/21
Every World Cup soccer champion since 1930 in photos
2022- Argentina wins it's third World Cup defeating France 4-2 in penalties.
(ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT, AFP via Getty Images)
Pochettino praised Ream for being a "positive leader" and expressed optimism about how the 38-year-old would handle the role for the World Cup.
Ream was then offered a chance to speak and thanked Pochettino for entrusting him with the role.
"This is more than a dream come true," Ream said. "I've done everything possible to be a part of this group, to help this group along. I'm just really grateful to be sitting here, to have this honor. And at the same time, it's not going to change what I do or who I am and how I help the group."
Ream made his international debut for the USMNT in 2010, starting a game againstSouth Africain the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup. He has appeared in 80 games for the USMNT since and played every minute of the squad's four matches at the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
Ream has logged just one career international goal, which came against Puerto Rico in 2016. He has posted four assists across his international appearances to date.
Ream has served as the USMNT's captain 26 times, which ranks eighth all-time in the squad's history, and is looking forward to assuming the mantle again during the 2026 World Cup.
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"It's the highest honor for me with this group and for the World Cup," Ream said. "I'm not going to take that for granted."
