World Cup 2026: the experience has a new face in the United States
The legendary Tim Howard was knocked out of first place as the oldest player to play a game for the USMNT
The United States team left good feelings in its match against Paraguay for the World Cup. Mauricio Pochettino's team has a good mix of experience and youth. Tim Ream wrote his name in the USMNT history books at 38 years old.
Defender Tim Ream saw minutes in the United States' debut in the 2026 World Cup. In this sense, the Charlotte soccer player became the oldest player to play a match with the American team.
Tim Ream saw minutes in the World Cup at 38 years and 250 days old. But there is a particular distinction. The player who held this record was Tim Howard. The former American goalkeeper set the mark at 38 years and 218 days old. However, Howard's record was achieved in a World Cup qualifying match in October 2017.
The World Cup record had been set in the 1994 World Cup. In this tournament, Fernando Clavijo played a match against Brazil when he was 37 years and 162 days old. 32 years later, Tim Ream leaves that record behind.
Oldest players who played for the United States
Tim Ream: 38 years and 250 days (June 12, 2026 – World Cup vs. Paraguay).
Tim Howard: 38 years and 218 days (October 10, 2017 – Qualifiers vs. Trinidad and Tobago).
Nick Rimando: 38 years and 118 days (October 14, 2017 – Friendly vs. Portugal).
Fernando Clavijo: 37 years and 162 days (July 4, 1994 – World Cup vs. Brazil).
Marcus Hahnemann: 37 years and 143 days (October 20, 2009 – Friendly vs. Slovakia).
The historical record in World Cups
Tim Ream's record is very far from the general record in the history of the World Cups. This line belongs to the Egyptian Essam El-Hadary. At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, El-Hadary saw action in a duel against Saudi Arabia at 45 years and 161 days old.