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USMNT captain Tim Ream retiring from international soccer after 16-year run
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- USMNT captain Tim Ream retiring from international soccer after 16-year run
Tim Ream
U.S. men's national team captain Tim Ream is hanging up his red, white and blue jersey for good.
Ream announced Tuesday that he's retiring from international soccer, capping off a 16-year run with the USMNT that saw him make 86 caps — 60 of them coming after his 30th birthday .
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Ream was captain during the United States' World Cup run this summer.
Tim Ream of the United States is honored for 86 caps with the USMNT prior to an international friendly match between the United States and Chile at Energizer Park on Sept. 29, 2026. Getty Images
The 38-year-old center back made the announcement prior to a ceremony honoring his U.S. soccer career in his hometown of St. Louis , where the USMNT was playing a friendly against Chile.
"That's it for me. I'm proud of being part of something for 16 years, but it is time to step away from the national team," Ream told reporters ahead of the match, according to USA Today .
"I've said in the past that I won't retire from the national team until I retire completely from the game, but the kids are getting younger and younger, and I don't mean my own kids," Ream added, according to Goal .
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Ream, who plays for Charlotte FC in MLS, began his international career in 2010 and played roles in the U.S. men's national team's appearances in the 2022 and 2026 World Cups, starting in four of five matches over the summer en route to a Round of 16 finish.
Tim Ream looks to gain control of the ball during the USMNT's
World Cup-ending loss to Belgium in their Round of 16 match
on July 6, 2026 in Seattle. Getty Images
He also helped the Americans win CONCACAF Nations League titles in 2020 and 202 and was part of four USMNT teams that reached the CONCACAF Gold Cup finals.
"I think he was humble enough," Mauricio Pochettino said this week about Ream. "He was always defending his team, the teammates, but always with empathy for [the coaching staff] and helping in every single decision."
Tim Ream of the United States poses with his family as he is honored for 86 caps with the USMNT prior to an international friendly match between the United States and Chile at Energizer Park in St. Louis, Mo on Sept. 29, 2026. Getty Images
With Ream ending his time with the national team, Pochettino will need to find a new captain for the squad, which he said would be something they started looking into.
Among those who could be named is former Red Bulls star Tyler Adams .
