Tyler Adams of the United States attends a press conference one day ahead of the group B match against Wales at the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Midfielder Tyler Adams, 23, has become the youngest captain of Team USA and the youngest captain among the 32 teams for Qatar 2022.
DOHA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams has been named captain of the United States ahead of their World Cup opener against Wales on Monday, becoming the youngest captain for the Americans since Walter Bahr in 1950.
Gregg Berhalter, the head coach of the team, announced the new appointment at the pre-game press conference on Sunday.
"We're proud to announce Tyler is the captain for the World Cup. We think he has great leadership capabilities. He leads by his actions and his words," said Berhalter.
Gregg Berhalter (L), head coach of the United States, and player Tyler Adams attend a press conference one day ahead of the group B match against Wales at the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
The 23-year-old Adams, the last of the 32 captains announced for this year's World Cup as well as the youngest one, is a homegrown midfielder of the New York Red Bulls academy who turned professional at the age of 16. He joined RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga in January 2019 and was transferred to Premier League side Leeds United this summer.
Adams made his national team debut in 2017 and has made 32 international appearances since then, with one goal.
"It's a huge honor for me, obviously, to be named captain of this team," Adams said, adding that he felt confident to lead a very young team.
Team USA, with an average age of 25 years and 214 days when the World Cup begins on Sunday, is the second-youngest team among the 32 teams. Only Ghana has a younger 26-man squad than them.
Speaking of their tournament's opening clash against Wales, Berhalter said midfielder Weston McKennie and right back Sergino Dest were basically healthy and ready to play. However, he wasn't ready to proclaim either full-time fit.
"They've made great progress," Berhalter said. "We see them as being able to take part in the game."
"That's part of having five substitutes. They can either come into the game or start them and take them out of the game when we feel that they're getting close to that threshold, but both of them are definitely in position to help this team tomorrow," Berhalter concluded. ■
