Veteran defender Tim Ream is once again representing the United States on the international stage, this time at the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup. At 37 years old, Ream brings a wealth of experience to the USMNT, having earned 70 caps, including appearances at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. His leadership and steady presence in central defense are invaluable as the U.S. aims for its ninth Gold Cup title.
Ream's journey with the national team has been marked by dedication and perseverance. He made his debut in a confederation championship against Canada in 2011 and has since become a mainstay in the squad. He also holds the longest tenure for Gold Cup appearances among USMNT players. He has also captained the last six USMNT matches he has started.
Speaking about what it means to play for his country in the Gold Cup, Ream expressed a deep sense of honor and privilege. "It's one of those [games] that you look at, you analyze it, and you recognize it wasn't good enough," Ream told reporters. "But you can take so many different learning experiences from it. What is it going to take to get to that level for a lot of these guys? And, what do you have to do day in and day out to be able to put those things right? As hard as it is in that immediate moment after and how terrible it feels to lose the way we did and play the way we did, it's something that you just have to take on board and understand what it takes to get to that level and compete at that level."
Ream's role extends beyond his on-field performance. As one of the team's most experienced players, he is also looked upon to guide and mentor the younger members of the squad. Following a 4-0 defeat to Switzerland, Ream emphasized the importance of communication and unity within the team. "I think the overarching message for us is like, this is our group right now. This is who we have to rely on," Ream said. "Each one of us has to have each other's back and we all have to stick together. Anything that's being said outside is, you know, it's cliché, but it's noise. There's nothing we can do about what people say there. No matter whether you play the greatest game of your life or the worst game of your life, there will be opinions on each of them."
He also stressed that the team needs to focus on themselves, and trust that the players next to them are working hard. He added, "We have a huge opportunity right now to kind of change the narrative and set the focus towards the World Cup coming up next summer, and that's [by winning] this [Gold Cup] tournament and that's what we want to do."
The USMNT's Gold Cup campaign began on June 15 with a dominant 5-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago. Ream, captaining the side, played a crucial role in securing the clean sheet. The U.S. then advanced to the quarterfinals after a 1-0 victory against Saudi Arabia.
Looking ahead, Ream's experience and leadership will be vital as the USMNT navigates the knockout stages of the Gold Cup. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil looming, Ream and his teammates are eager to make a statement and build momentum towards the ultimate goal.
