Official: Tyler Adams named captain of the USMNT
The Leeds United midfielder has officially been named team captain by Gregg Berhalter.
“We have no idea who the captain is going to be yet”, said Tyler Adams, just two days ago. Well, Tyler, you do now.
News was filtered out last night that the Leeds United dynamo was the favourite to be named USMNT captain for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with Adams being called up as the squad representative alongside manager Berhalter in their first pre-match press conference of the tournament. The news was confirmed during the day with Adams set to lead the USMNT out of the tunnel on Monday.
Adams feels a born leader
The midfielder, who has played 32 times for the national side, signed for Leeds in the summer from RB Leipzig. Adams said he felt “comfortable wearing [the armband]” in his recent appearance in front of the press and it looks as though Gregg Berhalter feels the same way. The USMNT Twitter account also hinted at Adams becoming captain with a tweet containing the words “won’t be long now” alongside a picture of his number 4 shirt.
The players decided in a team vote
Martin Rogers of FOX Sports broke the news that Adams was due to be announced as captain before the Wales game and that the way which the New York native was selected was via a vote: “Berhalter took an innovative approach — albeit an utterly hands-off one — by giving over responsibility for selecting the role to his 26-member group of players. One player, one vote. Highest tally gets the honor,” he wrote.
USMNT fixtures
21 November: Khalifa International Stadium: England-Iran 08:00 am ET / 05:00 am PT
21 November: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium: USA-Wales 02:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT
25 November: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium: Wales-Iran 05:00 am ET / 02:00 am PT
25 November: Al Bayt Stadium: England-USA 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT
29 November: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium: Wales-England 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT
29 November: Al Thumama Stadium: Iran-USA 2:00 pm ET / 11:00 am PT