The United States men's national soccer team has a new leader, but it's a familiar face.
U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino announced Friday, Oct. 2 that midfielder Tyler Adams will be the team's captain with the 2030 World Cup cycle now underway. Adams also wore the armband for the Stars and Stripes at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Pochettino said he was waiting to name a new captain until 2026 World Cup captain Tim Ream announced his international retirement − and was honored before the Americans' 4-2 win over Chile in his hometown of St. Louis.
The manager said naming a captain is, an "important thing as we start a new cycle in the national team," and expressed confidence in Adams.
"It’s well-deserved. I think we already have a good relationship
in the last two years. We’ve talked a lot, and he knows what I expect and is a perfect role model for everyone in the way he can translate the philosophy, culture and represent this amazing country," Pochettino said. "I think he’s the player and the person that can lead that period we have ahead."
Adams said he has grown considerably both on and off the field since the 2022 cycle, having taken on a key role with Premier League club Bournemouth and continuing to be a consistent presence for the U.S. when healthy.
"In 2022, obviously we were a very young team − I think one of the youngest at the World Cup − and although I think I was ready for that role at the same time I’ve had the ability to grow on and off the field in the period now. Leading up to this past World Cup in conversations with Tim, looking at the captains I’ve been captained by in the past in club scenarios, taking all the positives, negatives from each of them, growing throughout that period," Adams said. "Getting the armband 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 to obviously lead this group into a winning culture and continuing to build what we’re trying to build here."
U.S. defender Antonee Robinson captained the U.S. last time out, with Adams set to put on the armband for Saturday, Oct. 3's meeting with rival Mexico. The U.S. finishes out its fall friendly matches with a game against Canada on Oct. 6, then plays in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals in November.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tyler Adams named USMNT captain with new World Cup cycle underway
