Tim Ream named as captain of USMNT for 2026 World Cup - ESPN

FAYETTEVILLE, Georgia — U.S. men's national team manager Mauricio Pochettino has named defender Tim Ream as captain for the USMNT during the 2026 World Cup.

Pochettino made the announcement at his press conference ahead of Sunday's pre-World Cup friendly against Senegal in Charlotte, N.C.

«I am so grateful that [Ream] is with us and because [he] was a great captain, not only on the field...maybe more important of 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 said he made the decision in conjunction with his staff, though it wasn't much of a surprise.

Of the 23 games the USMNT has played under Pochettino, Ream has been the team's captain 16 times. Ream, who is the team's oldest player at 38 years old, was clearly moved by the honor.

Ream said, «Wow. I am not sure what to say. Thank you. Yeah, this is more than a dream come true. 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, with this group and for the World Cup and I'm not going to take that for granted."

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Pochettino also gave a