IRVINE, Calif. — At 38, Tim Ream is on the verge of becoming the oldest U.S. men’s national team player to appear in a World Cup. It also makes him the only player on the roster to have been alive the last time the U.S. hosted the tournament.
Ream was a child in 1994 when he watched on television as the U.S. upset Colombia at the Rose Bowl, helping the Americans to advance to the knockout stage for the first time in 64 years. That World Cup was a watershed moment for soccer in America.
So as Ream arrived Monday at Great Park Championship Soccer Stadium and saw it at the 5,500 capacity with fans ready to watch the first training session at the team’s base camp, he especially took notice of the kids in attendance.
“I’m old enough that I remember bits and pieces of 1994, so I’ve tried to tell guys and tried to convey the message in the media that it’s a once-in-a-career opportunity,” Ream said. “And with that comes more expectation, more pressure. But at the same time, we have to enjoy it.
“For me, it’s about just opening your eyes and taking everything in because this is unique. This is different. This is completely different from anything that any of us as players have experienced.”
On Friday when the U.S. faces Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Ream gets to be the USMNT captain in a World Cup more than 30 years after tuning in to the event.
Matt Freese could be the starting goalkeeper in that match and said that playing Friday in front of the home fans with an opportunity to inspire them is one that no one on the team takes for granted.
“The message from me is, believe,” he said. “We’re believing, and when you have a group of guys that fights for each other and dies for each other on the field, anything can happen. So believe in us, bring the energy, and we hear each and every one of you.”
“It means so much to be in a position to inspire the next generation, and there’s a compounding effect to it obviously. We were inspired by the previous generation. Hopefully, we inspire the next generation. And the more we inspire them, the better the following generation will be.”
The U.S. might enter the World Cup ranked 17th by FIFA, but did get a favorable draw for the group stage and some good news at the training session. Top defender Chris Richards practiced with the World Cup team for the first time after tearing left ankle ligaments last month, with his absence in the team’s two warmup matches raising questions about the American defense.
“We will see,” U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said. “Today is the first time with the team, and so it’s good to have nearly everyone ready to be selected for the game.”
Pochettino led USA chants ahead of the practice session held at Great Park, formerly a Marine Corps air station where pilots once trained for global conflicts. This was the only session open for public viewing, with about 32,000 participating in a lottery to try to score pairs of free tickets.
For those who made it inside, Richards and Ream were among the players who walked toward the fan seating areas of the stadium after practice to sign autographs and pose for pictures.
“We believe in you,” a fan told Ream, who signed her bandana. “We believe in you.”
Contact Diamond Leung at dleung@reviewjournal.com. Follow @diamond83 on X.
