The 2026 FIFA World Cup carries major expectations for the American co-hosts, including a deep run by the U.S. Men’s National Team and renewed interest that inspires future fans. Doubts about long-term American soccer viability persist despite the women’s team’s success. Tim Ream, a veteran defender for Charlotte FC, is positioned to address those concerns. He believes the U.S. can win knockout-stage matches and win multiple games in that phase. Ream is 38 and started all four U.S. games at the 2022 World Cup, when the team reached the Round of 16. He notes that the 2022 squad had more experience and understanding of what the tournament requires than the 2018 team, which failed to qualify.
"“I have no doubt in my mind that we can win in a knockout stage game. I have no doubt that we can win multiple games in the knockout stages,” Ream said in an interview with All Things Considered host Juana Summers."
"“At the last World Cup, none of us had played. We had one guy who had played in a World Cup previously,” Ream said. “And now I think guys have a much better understanding of what it takes.”"
"Ream is 38. He started all four games in 2022 at the World Cup in Qatar. The 2022 squad — which was the second-youngest team in the tournament — was eliminated in the Round of 16 by the Netherlands. They failed to qualify in 2018 for the games in Russia."
"Ream is also the only player in the current talent pool with any memory of the last time the tournament was held in the United States, in 1994 — though he was only 6 years old. He’s a likely choice for the final roster. He previously served as the team captain and he’s ready to do whatever the team might ask of him."
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