Why Tim Ream is USMNT captain for World Cup, not Christian Pulisic

Christian Pulisic may be called "Captain America" by some, but he won't be the United States' captain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Mauricio Pochettino announced on Saturday that the USMNT captain for the tournament in North America will be Tim Ream.

The news wasn't totally shocking, given that Ream has been the captain for 17 of Pochettino's 24 matches in charge of the U.S.

It still likely surprises some fans that Pulisic, the face of the USMNT, wasn't given the armband.

Why is Tim Ream the USMNT captain, not Christian Pulisic?

The first factor here is likely the trust that Pochettino has already built by Ream being his captain in the aforementioned 17 of 24 matches in charge.

He was essentially building Ream up for this role.

Ream also brings immense experience, now at 38 years old and playing in MLS for Charlotte FC after a long career in England.

Ream has 80 caps with the United States and is the senior-most player on the USMNT roster for this tournament.

"I am so grateful he is with us — he is a great captain not only field but more importantly off the field," Pochettino said. "He has the experience & capacity to be the leader we want."

Pulisic and Pochettino seemed to clash just a bit early in the new leader's tenure, but that has mostly been put aside of late.

The skilled attacker Pulisic will still be crucial to what the United States is able to accomplish at the World Cup. He just won't do it in the captain's armband -- at least while Ream is on the field.

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