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Veteran Ream Shatters USMNT World Cup Age Record
13 Jun
Summary
- Tim Ream is the oldest American man to play in a World Cup.
- Ream captained the USMNT in the 2026 World Cup opener.
- He now plays for Charlotte FC after a career in England.
Tim Ream has achieved a significant milestone, becoming the oldest American man to ever play in a World Cup. At 38 years and 250 days old, he took the field for the USMNT on June 12, 2026, against Paraguay, breaking the previous record. This record was held by Fernando Clavijo since the 1994 World Cup, which was also hosted in the U.S.
Ream, a veteran defender, is participating in his second World Cup after featuring in all four of the U.S. matches in Qatar in 2022. His professional career includes 14 seasons in England with Bolton Wanderers and Fulham, with five seasons in the Premier League. He currently plays for Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer. Despite his age, Ream is not the oldest player in the 2026 tournament, which includes seven players aged 40 or older, such as Scotland's Craig Gordon and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino has appointed Ream as the team captain for the 2026 World Cup, recognizing his leadership qualities. Pochettino stated that Ream's experience and capacity make him the ideal leader, not just on the field but crucially off it.
