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USA NATIONAL SOCCER TRAINING CENTER (Fayetteville, Georgia) — Tim Ream will captain the United States men’s national team at this summer’s World Cup, manager Mauricio Pochettino announced Saturday morning.
The 38-year-old central defender has already worn the armband in 16 of the 23 matches of the Pochettino era, including this first match against Panama on October 12, 2024 in Austin, Texas.
“What I want to say is that I am very grateful that he is with us, because he is a great captain not only on the pitch, but perhaps more importantly, off the pitch,” Pochettino said while sitting next to Ream at a news conference at the National Training Center outside Atlanta. “I think he has the experience, he has the ability to be the leader we want, the positive leader.
“For me, one of the most important things is to connect [with] the players. He’s an incredible voice, so lucky to have a player like him with his personality and character.”
Ream, the oldest player on the 26-man U.S. roster, seemed a little surprised despite his veteran status on the team.
“Wow,” Ream said. “This is more than a dream come true. I’ve done everything I can to be a part of this group, to help it move forward, and I’m just so grateful to be sitting here to have this honor. And at the same time, it won’t change what I do, who I am, or how I help the group.”
Ream thanked Pochettino, before adding that it is “the greatest honor for me” and “I’m not going to take this for granted”.
Pochettino said it was him who chose Ream, not the players.
“Not a vote from the team, from the players,” Pochettino said, arms crossed on the table. “It’s my decision.”
Tim Ream of the United States after a match between the United States and Belgium in March. (Photo by Andrew J. Clark/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
Ream is already widely considered a leader on this team. Fellow defender Alex Freeman, who is the youngest player on the roster at 21, said earlier this week that he always tries to learn from Ream and goes to him when he needs advice.
Four years ago, Tyler Adams, then 23, was named captain for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and took on the role with remarkable maturity and composure. Just because he’s not captain this summer doesn’t mean he’ll be any less of a leader. In fact, there are quite a few players in the team who could have taken on the captaincy responsibilities.
“Look, it’s a privilege and an honor for anyone who wears the armband,” Adams told reporters earlier in the week, before Ream was officially named. “But what I stand for, how I lead, I think everyone who plays with me knows I’m a leader. That’s how I’ve been my whole career, whether I wear the armband or not.”
Ream has been with this team for 15 years and made his national team debut on November 17, 2010. He has 80 appearances, scored one goal and played every minute of the 2022 World Cup.
The United States will play two friendly tune-up matches next week, against Senegal in Charlotte on Sunday, then against Germany in Chicago on Saturday June 6. The team will then fly to their World Cup base camp in Irvine, California, before kicking off the tournament in Group D where they will face Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12, Australia in Seattle on June 19 and Turkey back in Los Angeles on June 25.
