When a coach selects a captain for his or her soccer team, they don’t necessarily pick their best player, leading goalscorer or the squad’s most popular player.
They will give the armband to someone they can communicate with and to help get their message across to their players, and someone with strong leadership qualities.
We have lost count as to how many times Christian Pulisic has captained the U.S. men’s national team as announcers and writers love to call him Captain America because it makes for great headlines.
For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Tim Ream will be Captain America.
Why Pochettino selected Ream as USMNT captain
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino announced that he named the Charlotte FC center back as the U.S. Men’s National Team captain for the World Cup on Saturday.
It should not have been a surprise because Ream has skippered 17 of the 23 games in which he has been in charge.
During a press conference in Fayetteville, Ga., Pochettino explained his reasoning.
“I am so grateful that [Ream] is with us and because [he] was a great captain, not only on the field … maybe more important off the field,” Pochettino said. “And I think he has the experience, he has the capacity to be the leader that we want, the positive leader acting and reflecting on the field, off the field.
“As you know, for me it’s one of the most important things is to connect with the player, is to connect through the player that have experience, and I think he’s amazing.”
Pochettino added that Ream might not play every game, but he still will be captain of the team, especially in the locker room.
Pulisic is the best-known player of the current U.S. team, although his personality might not fit into the role of a team captain during a World Cup at this stage of his career.
Not the end of the world.
Let him worry about finding his goal-scoring mojo while aiding the American attack.
Unlike Pulisic, probably a good portion of the U.S. sporting public isn’t aware of who Ream is.
For most of his 17-year professional career, Ream has forged a reputation as a solid defender, many times as a center back, for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer, the Bolton Wanderers and Fulham FC in England.
Far from the flashiest player on the pitch, Ream is a gritty, never-say die player who puts his entire heart and soul into a game.
Ream: ‘This more than a dream come true’
Sitting next to Pochettino at the podium, Ream was humbled by the selection.
“Wow. I am not sure what to say. Thank you,” he said.
But Ream found the words.
“This is more than a dream come true,” he said. “I’ve done everything possible to be a part of this group, to help this group along and I’m just really, really grateful to be sitting here to have this honor. At the same time, it’s not going to change what I do or who I am and how I help the group. So, thank you. It’s the highest honor for me in this group, with this group and for the World Cup and you know, I’m not going to take that for granted.”
This writer has known Ream since he was a 22-year-old rookie with the New York Red Bulls in 2010.
At the time had shown a ton of poise for a rookie central defender, and exceptional ball handling skill. He demonstrated maturity was well beyond his years. Even as a rookie, he was a go-to guy for reporters in the locker room after games.
It doesn’t surprise me that Ream has played this deep in his career and is the team captain.
Back then, yours truly remembers some writers who mentioned to Ream about playing with the national team and in Europe. I have seen Ream grimace when he hears those words.
He has replied to the effect, “Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
Indeed.
On April 6, 2010 Ream told this writer that — two games into his professional career.
“Yeah, I’ve heard that people are touting me as rookie of the year,” he said at the time. “It’s two games into the season, to be honest with you. I’m a guy who is not going to really look into that. As the year winds down and it’s still being said, great.
“I’m not one who’s going to sit on that, and OK, ‘I’ve done what I’ve need to do. Now I’ll just be all right with the way I play,” he added with a slight laugh. “As a professional, you need to keep going. That’s all there is to it.”
Ream is a highly intelligent defender who might not have the flash of many of his teammates, but he is someone who plays with plenty of grit.
No set rules on picking a World Cup captain
There is not one set rule on picking a captain, especially for a World Cup.
Sometimes a coach will select a superstar.
Case in point:
Lionel Messi skippered Argentina to the 2022 World Cup crown in Qatar.
Sometimes they don’t.
When Brazil won its third world championship in four tries in 1970, the great defender Carlos Alberto captained the team, and not the legendary Pele.
A short history of U.S. World Cup captains since 1990
Since the U.S. returned to the World Cup in 1990, some head coaches have preferred to have players who could be their voice on the field and in the locker room.
At the age of 24, center back Mike Windischmann captained the 1990 team under Bob Gansler. Windy, as he was nicknamed, already had been through two World Cup qualifying runs, and had more international experience than many of his teammates at the time.
Goalkeeper Tony Meola captained the 1994 team under head coach Bora Milutinovic, while Thomas Dooley wore the captain’s armband in 1998 while Steve Sampson was boss.
In 2002, Earnie Stewart and Claudio Reyna shared the honors with Bruce Arena at the helm, while Reyna was the lone captain with Arena still in charge at the 2006 World Cup.
Four years later at South Africa 2010, Carlos Bocanegra captained the USA with Bob Bradley as head coach before Clint Dempsey took over the responsibilities under Jurgen Klinsmann in 2014.
In Qatar in 2022, Tyler Adams skippered the side at the age of 23, under head coach Gregg Berhalter.
And now, it’s Ream, who will be the oldest U.S. player to compete in a men’s World Cup.
Not too many players can claim they are performing for their national team in a home World Cup at the age of 38, let alone being the captain.
Sometimes Ream’s age has been exposed, especially when swifter attacking players getting a step on him and cause problems in the back.
Are there better center backs on the team?
Chris Richards, for one, if he is healthy. Miles Robinson and Mark McKenzie are likely to be more sprite.
But given his experience and leadership, Tim Ream will be the best conduit for Mauricio Pochettino, to help get his message to the players.
Michael Lewis, the sixth recipient of the Clay Berling Media Career of Excellence Award in 2025, can be followed on X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky at @Soccerwriter. His 10th soccer book, Around the World Cup in 40 Years: An American sportswriter’s perspective, has been published.
