Tim Ream is 38 years old. Some of his teammates on the US men’s national team grew up watching him play on television. Now he’s their captain heading into a home World Cup.

Named to the 26-man roster on May 26, Ream was appointed captain by coach Mauricio Pochettino just two days later. He is the oldest player on the squad by a considerable margin, nearly seven years older than the next most senior teammate.

The resume that earned the armband

Ream’s credentials are not up for debate. He has earned 82 caps for the US national team and worn the captain’s armband 26 times before this appointment. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he started all four matches and played every single minute.

Pochettino has made his feelings clear, reportedly referring to Ream simply as “my captain.”

The US opens its World Cup campaign against Paraguay around June 12, and if Ream takes the field, he could become the oldest American to ever play in a men’s World Cup.

A bridge to 1994

He is the only player in the entire 26-man squad who has personal memories of the last time the United States hosted the World Cup in 1994. Ream was six years old that summer. Now, 32 years later, he gets to experience the sequel from the inside.

For the younger members of the squad, many of whom are experiencing their first major international tournament, having someone in the room who played every minute of a World Cup just four years ago is a resource that cannot be replicated by tactics boards or video sessions.