Mauricio Pochettino names Tyler Adams new USMNT captain after Tim Ream retires in wake of World Cup heartbreak

Tyler Adams is once again the captain of the United States men’s national soccer team, head coach Mauricio Pochettino announced Friday.

Four years after serving as USMNT captain at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the 27-year-old Bournemouth midfielder succeeds Tim Ream, who held the honor during America’s round-of-16 run at last summer’s tournament. 

Ream announced his retirement prior to Tuesday’s 4-2 win over Chile.  

‘I think [we’re] so happy to announce and for everyone to know that he’s going to be our leader and our captain,’ Pochettino said ahead of Saturday’s friendly against rival Mexico.

‘I think we’ve been [in] a very good relationship in the last two years. I think we were talking to a lot, and I think he knows what I expect and he’s a perfect role model for everyone in the way that the philosophy, the future, representing that amazing country. I think he’s the player and the person that can lead that period that we have ahead. And I [say] congratulations.’

Adams enthusiastically accepted the honor on Friday while addressing reporters in Tempe, Arizona.

‘I’m extremely honored and grateful for the opportunity,’ Adams said. ‘I think that, like Mauricio said, we’ve obviously built an amazing relationship over the past two years with all the staff, with my teammates here, going into this past World Cup.

‘And I think as we start a new cycle, I’m excited to be able to help my teammates and the staff in any way possible in order to win, grow the federation and ultimately take that next step. So I appreciate it.

‘I think getting the armband, it doesn’t mean anything to me in being a leader or being different from who I am. I’m going to be the exact same person. I’m going to try and obviously lead this group into a winning culture and continuing to build what we’re trying to build here. So yeah, I want to represent my teammates in the best way possible.’

Pochettino informed his team yesterday of the decision, which he said he made in conjunction with his coaching staff.

Asked if Adams will remain captain through the 2030 World Cup, Pochettino agreed, provided the veteran player ‘behaved well.’

‘I think it’s important [for] the new staff to nominate or to have the chance to announce and everyone to know that Tyler is the perfect person, player and professional to be the leader in the way that we expect,’ Pochettino said.

‘In the last few weeks that we were talking with him, he knows exactly what we expect from him. He [needs] to challenge us, of course, the coaching staff. He needs to defend teammates,’ Pochettino continued.

Adams’s impressive on-field play at the 2022 Qatar World Cup was complemented by his skillful performance with reporters, particularly when asked to address difficult political questions ahead of a tense group-stage matchup with Iran.

And as Pochettino explained Friday, it’s this kind of poise that made Adams an obvious choice as captain.  

‘There’s plenty of things that I think he has the quality and have the feelings to deal with this type of situation,’ Pochettino said of Adams. ‘Representing, like he said, the federation, players, but also us, the coaches, the staff. And I think he also is great at communicating with [the media], with the fans.’

The US and rival Mexico will kick off from State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona at 7pm local time, 9pm EST.