Tim Ream was named Tuesday to the United States Men’s National Team 26-man roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, securing his place on a squad that will open group play in Group D against Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye. Charlotte FC said Ream became only the second player in club history to be selected to a World Cup roster while active with the team.

For Charlotte, the timing is hard to miss. The USMNT will play Senegal at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday, May 31, at 3:30 p.m. in the Allstate Continental Clásico, giving local fans a chance to see Ream before the World Cup begins. The United States will then face Paraguay on June 12, Australia on June 19 and Türkiye on June 25.

Zoran Krneta, Charlotte FC’s sporting director, called Ream’s inclusion a proud moment for the club and said the team aspires to be a destination for top American talent. He added that Ream represents the highest standard of professionalism and said everyone in Charlotte will be behind him this summer.

Ream’s selection fits the form he has built over the past two major tournaments. He started all four matches for the United States at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and started every game for the USMNT at Copa America 2024. He has now appeared 80 times for the national team.

The veteran defender has also become a regular figure for Charlotte FC, where he has featured 54 times in MLS play, including playoffs. He is one of eight MLS players named to the USMNT roster, another sign of how much of the American setup still runs through the domestic league.

Charlotte FC’s milestone is real, but so is the larger test ahead. Ream now carries the club’s name into the most visible stage in the sport, with the United States set to open a demanding group and the spotlight already building around a roster that blends established veterans with MLS representation.