Tyler Adams Named USMNT Captain in New Pochettino Era | OneFootball

TEMPE, Ariz. – Midfielder Tyler Adams is the new captain of the U.S. Men’s National Team, head coach Mauricio Pochettino announced Friday afternoon, roughly 16 hours before kickoff between USA-Mexico on Oct. 3 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

“It’s so happy to announce, and for everyone to know, that he's going to be our leader and our captain,” Pochettino said. “He’s the player and the person that can lead the period that we have ahead.”

“I'm extremely honored and grateful for the opportunity,” Adams said. “We’ve built an amazing relationship over the past two years with all the staff, with my teammates here going into this past World Cup. As we start a new cycle, I'm excited to be able to help my teammates and the staff in any way possible in order to win, grow the Federation, and ultimately take that next step.”

Wearing the armband isn’t new for Adams, the New York native. As a member of the squad that represented the U.S. at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Adams was the youngest captain at the tournament at 23 years and 288 days and the youngest American captain since Walter Bahr in 1950.

The 27-year-old has grown into an anchor in the midfield for the senior National Team since making his debut on Nov. 14, 2017, a 1-1 draw with Portugal that saw him become the first player born in 1999 to represent the MNT. In the nearly nine years since then, Adams has earned a roster-high 60 caps, scored two goals and been honored as the 2022 U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year.

This summer, Adams was among 13 players to make his second consecutive World Cup roster for the U.S. He played in all four matches in the 2022 edition which saw the U.S. reach the Round of 16 with one of the youngest rosters in the tournament.

Four years later, the midfielder played in four of the five matches in FIFA World Cup 2026, helping the USMNT make history and finish atop Group D and earn the program’s first knockout stage win since 2002.

“It’s well deserved,” Pochettino said. “We’ve built a very good relationship in the last two years…he knows what I expect and he’s a perfect role model for everyone in the way he can translate the philosophy and the culture and represent the amazing country.”

The announcement aligns with a new era under Pochettino that the Argentine has approached as a “fresh start” since originally joining U.S. Soccer in September 2024. The head coach signed a new contract following the USMNT’s historic run at the FIFA World Cup on home soil this summer. With three wins, including a Round of 32 victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Pochettino became the most successful USMNT manager in World Cup history.

The new contract, which U.S. Soccer announced in August, keeps Pochettino as head coach through 2030, giving him his first full four-year cycle to work with.

Pochettino’s previous captain, Tim Ream, who wore the armband for the U.S. through FIFA World Cup 2026, announced his retirement from international soccer earlier this week when he was recognized prior to the USA-Chile match at Energizer Park in his hometown of St. Louis, Mo. Though Ream will continue to play club soccer for Charlotte FC in MLS, he wrapped up his National Team career with 86 caps and served as Pochettino's captain 23 times, more than any other player.

Adams rose through the ranks at New York Red Bull. He was the first-ever signing for New York Red Bulls II on March 19, 2015. He made his senior team debut the same year at the age of 16 and scored his first professional goal in his first appearance.

After spending three seasons in Major League Soccer with the Red Bulls, Adams made the jump to play club soccer overseas. At RB Leipzig in Bundesliga, Adams made over 100 appearances and scored in the Champions League quarterfinal win over Atlético Madrid in 2022. Following a stint at Leeds United, he signed a five-year deal with his current club, AFC Bournemouth in the English Premier League.

“Getting the armband doesn’t mean anything to me in being a leader or different in who I am,” Adams said. “I’m going to try to lead this group into a winning culture and continue to build what we’re trying to build here.”

As a leader, Adams played a role in shaping the tone of camp and setting the standard as the U.S. integrated debutants and first-time call-ups with World Cup veterans. In a fall camp featuring 13 previously uncapped players, 12 who have gone on to make their debuts in the first two matches of the window, Adams established himself as both a respected and helpful veteran.

From forward Julian Hall to midfielder Adri Mehmeti to the youngest USMNT goal scorer in program history, midfielder Mathis Albert, Adams is a name that continually comes up as someone these youngsters look up to.

“I want to represent my teammates and the country in the best way possible,” Adams said. “This is just the icing, the cherry on top. We have a lot of work to do still, but we’re getting there.”

Adams has started once as captain so far in this four-match window. His next time could be Saturday night when the USMNT face rival Mexico for a “Duel in the Desert” at State Farm Arena in Glendale, Ariz. The 80th edition of the storied rivalry is highly anticipated between the two Round of 16 participants at this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

“For the long run, if the U.S. wants to grow and get better, we need to be able to compete with the likes of Mexico at a high level,” Adams said.