Next man up: Meet the USMNT's future captains

PHOENIX, Ariz. — When United States Men's National Team defender Tim Ream announced his retirement on Tuesday, Sept. 29 in advance of the team's friendly against Chile, American soccer didn't just lose its most celebrated veteran: it lost its captain, too.

Ream led the USMNT at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being tapped for the role by coach Mauricio Pochettino. His departure from the national team opens a leadership opportunity for the squad's senior players— and Ream worked hard to ensure they'd be ready for it.

"The biggest thing that I wanted to do as I started to get the captain’s armband more and more is 'how can I help these guys become the next captain?'" Ream said after his retirement announcement. "How can I help this group continue to develop and be more special than they are?"

With 13 uncapped players appearing on the USMNT's first post-World Cup roster, the need for strong leaders is clear. But which members of the USMNT are likely to step into Ream's shoes — and what kind of environment are they likely to foster?

Tyler Adams, Midfielder

27-year-old Adams is the likeliest USMNT captain candidate, largely because he's a former captain himself. Previous coach Gregg Berhalter named the then-23-year-old Adams the captain of the 2022 USMNT World Cup squad on the basis of his maturity and grit. Adams was the youngest captain at that tournament by nearly a decade, but he fit right in, deftly lifting up his teammates while delivering humble answers to tough questions from global journalists.

Adams entered the USMNT during a moment of turmoil: his first caps came in the wake of the team's failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. That disappointing reality forged him in fire, but he's interested in helping the next generation avoid that kind of pressure.

"I look at this generation of players right now and I think they're in a great position that they can go through the process properly," Adams said at the start of this USMNT camp. "Really just lean on guidance and go through and get their own experiences, have opportunities like the Olympics as well along that way and other competitions to really grow them for the next World Cup."