The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a public-private partnership among FC Dallas, the City of Frisco, Frisco Independent School District, and the U.S. Soccer Federation, and currently located in Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. It honors soccer achievements in the United States. Induction is the highest honor in American soccer.
History The Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 by the Philadelphia "Old-timers" Association, a group of former professional and amateur soccer players that wanted to recognize the achievements of soccer in America.
Museum
The Hall of Fame museum opened on June 12, 1999, in Oneonta, New York. The museum featured the hall of fame, a library, and an interactive soccer play area. The United States National Soccer Team Players Association partnered with the Hall of Fame to create the Time In program, which honored people with a connection to soccer battling leukemia. Since the disease disproportionately targets children, a majority of the honorees were youth soccer players.
Prior to the 2005 induction of the "Magnificent Five", individuals from the early and mid 20th century had been largely ignored. This change was brought about by the acquisition of a large volume of historical records relating to this period. These records combined with previously developed eligibility criteria led to the induction of Tommy Fleming, Alex McNab, Johnny Nelson, Werner Nilsen and Fabri Salcedo, five players whose notable careers all took place prior to 1950. The "Magnificent Five" were inducted posthumously into the Hall of Fame in August 2005.
Sports Illustrated reported on September 4, 2009 that the Hall would be closing to the public outside of certain match days. As a result of financial difficulties, the Hall cut six of its nine employees during that same month. The director of the Hall of Fame for almost ten years, Jack Huckel, left his position on December 18, 2009. On February 10, 2010, it was announced that the Hall would close its facility, though inductions will continue.
In September 2015, it was announced that a new Hall of Fame museum would be built at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, the home of Major League Soccer club FC Dallas. The new museum opened during the 2018 Enshrinement Ceremony on October 20, 2018. This new facility features additional memorabilia from soccer legends and high-tech, interactive exhibits.
Archive After the museum was closed, a collection of more than 80,000 items was distributed to various locations across the country, including the headquarters of Eurosport, a long-term corporate sponsor, in Hillsborough, North Carolina. The collection includes the following notable items: The oldest soccer ball made in the United States The 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup Trophies The North American Soccer League archive The 1994 FIFA World Cup U.S. archive A rare soccer photography collection from New York depression-era photographer John Albok Materials from the U.S. national teams in World Cup competition Artifacts from the American Soccer League of the 1920s and 1950s Pelé’s New York Cosmos jersey The Lamar Hunt Open Cup trophy Mia Hamm’s cleats Commemorations of the first U.S. World Cup team in 1930
Eligibility Eligible individuals may be inducted into one of three categories: Player, Builder and Veteran (player). New individuals are inducted annually.
Players To be eligible in the Player category, an individual must have met number 1, and either number 2 or number 3, of the following three criteria:
Retired as a player for at least three years, but for no more than 10 years. Played at least 20 full international games for the United States. This requirement is reduced to 10 games if the games were prior to 1990. Played at least five seasons in an American first-division professional league (currently MLS or NWSL), and won either the league championship, or the U.S. Open Cup, or was selected as a league all-star at least once.
Veterans Players who have met either no. 2 or no. 3 but who retired more than 10 years ago are automatically placed on the Veteran eligibility list.
Builders To be eligible in this category, an individual must have had a major, sustained and positive impact on soccer in the United States at a national or first division professional level in non-playing capacity. Due to the broad, general nature of the criteria, nominations for this category may be considered. Nominations are screened by the Hall of Fame Historian and Researcher who submit their recommendations to the Hall as to the appropriateness of the nominee's inclusion on the eligibility list.
Medal of Honor The National Soccer Hall of Fame's Medal of Honor is the highest honor given to people who have grown the sport of soccer in the United States.Sports Business Journal, Soccer's visionary: Phil Anschutz, June 5, 2006, http://m.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2006/06/20060605/SBJ-In-Depth/Soccers-Visionary-Phil-Anschutz.aspx The Medal is awarded to individuals who has "demonstrated vision and played an historic role in changing the course of soccer in America."Lamar Hunt Receives National Soccer Hall of Fame Medal of Honor, May 15, 1999, https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.sport.soccer/ZlPN-XpO6C4 The Medal has been given out only four times in history.
NumberAwardedNameAchievements 1 1998 Alan Rothenberg Director of the 1994 World Cup President of U.S. Soccer (1990–98)Oversaw the establishment of MLS 2 1999 Lamar Hunt Co-founder of the NASL (1967–84)Owner of 3 MLS teams during the early 2000sESPN FC, Hunt a quiet pioneer of U.S. soccer, December 13, 2006, http://espnfc.com/columns/story?id=394199&root=us25&cc=5901 Built the second soccer-specific stadium in the country after Bethlehem Steel in 1913 3 2001 1991 Women's national team Won the inaugural Women's World Cup 4 2006 Phil Anschutz The most influential person in growing soccer in the U.S. Owned 6 of 10 MLS teams during the early 2000s Pushed MLS's development of soccer-specific stadiums
Annual ballots
2009 ballot
In 2009, the Hall of Fame inducted Jeff Agoos and Joy Fawcett in the Player category.
2010 ballot
In 2010, Thomas Dooley and Preki Radosavljević were inducted in the Player category, Kyle Rote, Jr. in the Veteran category, and Bruce Arena in the Builder category.
2011 ballot
On February 17, 2011, the Hall of Fame announced the candidates eligible for induction into the Hall for that year in all three categories. On March 29, 2011, the Hall of Fame announced that Cobi Jones, Eddie Pope, and Earnie Stewart would be inducted in the Player category. Bruce Murray was selected for the Veteran category, and Bob Gansler was selected in the Builder category.
2012 ballot On January 31, 2012, the United States Soccer Federation announced that the ballots were finalized for the Induction Class of 2012. Voting began on the day of the announcement and continued until February 17. Twelve Players were added to the ballot after qualifying for the first time. They included Tony Meola, Claudio Reyna, Jose Burciaga Jr., Ronald Cerritos, Lorrie Fair, Jennifer Lalor, Ronnie O'Brien, Ante Razov, David Regis, Thori Staples Bryan, Greg Vanney and Kerry Zavagnin. Of the remaining nine players in the pool, Mike Burns, Peter Nowak, Carlos Valderrama, and Peter Vermes were in their final year of eligibility.
On February 29, 2012, the USSF announced the induction of Tony Meola and Claudio Reyna in the Player category, Desmond Armstrong in the Veteran category, and Tony DiCicco in the Builder category. Reyna and Meola greatly exceeded the two-thirds threshold required to enter the Hall, receiving 96% and 90% of the vote respectively.
2013 ballot On October 11, 2013, the Hall of Fame inducted Joe-Max Moore as a Player and Peter Vermes as a Veteran.
2014 ballot On February 14, 2015, the Hall of Fame inducted the Class of 2014: Kristine Lilly (Player), Brian McBride (Player), and Bob Bradley (Builder).
2015 ballot On April 8, 2015, the USSF announced the Hall of Fame Class of 2015: Kasey Keller (Player), Glenn Myernick (Veteran), and Sigi Schmid (Builder).
2016 ballot On May 5, 2016, the USSF announced the Hall of Fame Class of 2016: Brandi Chastain (Player), Shannon MacMillan (Veteran), and Don Garber (Builder). Garber later deferred his enshrinement in the Hall to 2018.
2017 ballot On August 3, 2017, former United States women's national soccer team goalkeeper Briana Scurry and Joe Machnik were elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in the Player and Builder categories respectively.
2018 ballot On May 31, 2018, five new Inductees were announced: Cindy Parlow Cone (Veteran), Brad Friedel (Player), Tiffeny Milbrett (Player), Bob Contiguglia (Builder), and Don Garber (Builder, deferred from 2016). The 2018 class was the first class enshrined at the new facility in Frisco, Texas.
2019 ballot On September 21, 2019, the Hall of Fame inducted the Class of 2019: Abby Wambach (Player) and Sunil Gulati (Builder).
2020 ballot In 2020, Carlos Bocanegra (Player) was the only person elected into the Hall of Fame; his induction was delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 ballot On October 2, 2021, the Hall of Fame inducted three members of the Class of 2021: Steve Cherundolo (Player), Jaime Moreno (Veteran), and Kevin Payne (Builder). Christie Pearce was also elected but deferred her induction to 2022. Carlos Bocanegra was also inducted as the lone member of the Class of 2020 after his induction was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022 ballot On May 21, 2022, the Hall of Fame inducted five members of the Class of 2022: Shannon Boxx (Player), Clint Dempsey (Player), Marco Etcheverry (Veteran), Linda Hamilton (Veteran), and Esfandiar Baharmast (Builder). Hope Solo (Player) was also elected in 2022, but deferred her induction to 2023.
2023 ballot On May 6, 2023, the Hall of Fame inducted the six members of the Class of 2023: DaMarcus Beasley (Player), Landon Donovan (Player), Lauren Holiday (Player), Kate Markgraf (Player), Steve Zungul (Player), and Jill Ellis (Builder). Hope Solo was also inducted after being elected as part of the Class of 2022.
2024 ballot On May 4, 2024, the Hall of Fame inducted the four members of the Class of 2024: Tim Howard (Player), Josh McKinney (Player), Tisha Venturini (Player), and Francisco Marcos (Builder).
2025 ballot On May 3, 2025, the Hall of Fame inducted the five members of the Class of 2025: Carli Lloyd (Player), Nick Rimando (Player), Chris Armas (Veteran), Mary Harvey (Veteran), and Mark Abbott (Builder).
2026 ballot On May 1, 2026, the Hall of Fame inducted the five members of the Class of 2026: Tobin Heath (Player), Heather O'Reilly (Player), Chris Wondolowski (Player), Kevin Crow (Veteran), Tony Sanneh (Veteran), and Kari Seitz (Builder).
Inductees
Players
Jeff Agoos – 2009 Michelle Akers – 2004 Carlos Alberto – 2006 Robert Annis – 1976 Chris Armas – 2025 Desmond Armstrong – 2012 Andrew Auld – 1986 Adolph Bachmeier – 2002 Walter Bahr – 1976 Marcelo Balboa – 2005 George Barr – 1983 Fred Beardsworth – 1965 DaMarcus Beasley – 2023 Franz Beckenbauer – 1998 Raymond Bernabei – 1978 Carlos Bocanegra – 2020 Vladislav Bogićević – 2002 Mike Bookie – 1986 Frank Borghi – 1976 John Boulos – 1980 Shannon Boxx – 2022 Harold Brittan – 1951 Davey Brown – 1951 George Brown – 1995 Jim Brown – 1986 Paul Caligiuri – 2004 Ralph Caraffi – 1959 Joe Carenza, Sr. – 1982 Efrain Chacurian – 1992 Brandi Chastaingoalnation.com | National Soccer Hall of Fame Inducts Class of 2016 – 2016 Stanley Chesney – 1966 Steve Cherundolo – 2021 Paul Child – 2003 Giorgio Chinaglia – 2000 Fernando Clavijo – 2005 Charlie Colombo – 1976 Geoff Coombes – 1976 Robert W. Craddock – 1997 Kevin Crow – 2026 Paul Danilo – 1996 Rick Davis – 2001 Clint Dempsey - 2022 Walter Dick – 1989 Nicholas DiOrio – 1974 Aldo Donelli – 1954 Landon Donovan – 2023 Thomas Dooley – 2010 Jimmy Douglas – 1954 Tommy Duggan – 1955