DaMarcus Beasley is in an exclusive club in U.S. men’s national soccer team history.
Beasley, who played in MLS with the Chicago Fire and Houston Dynamo along with four stops in Europe (PSV, Rangers, Manchester City and Hannover 96), and a trip to Mexico (Puebla), sits alone as the only male to appear in four FIFA World Cups for the USMNT.
The feat has been accomplished 10 times in U.S. Women’s National Team history.
“You always dream about playing in a World Cup,” Beasley said. “Those are the same dreams I had and my brother when we were kids, when we were playing in the backyard back here in Fort Wayne.
“It takes a lot of hard work, a lot of confidence and consistency. … Everyone’s career, unless you’re in that Messi or Ronaldo conversation, which there’s not many, everyone’s career has their ups and downs. You’re going to have media, coaches and everybody doubting you, so you’re going to have a lot of negative energy and conversations about your career.
“For me, in my opinion, how I was able to get out of those moments was one, having a good support system, and two, you have to be confident in yourself. It can’t come from your coach. It’s not always going to come from your coach, not always going to come from your mentors. It has to come with you.”
Beasley’s World Cup journey started in 2002 in South Korea at 20 years old. The eventual quarterfinal finish remains the best performance by the U.S. in a World Cup. The phone call from then coach Bruce Arena was met with surprise.
“I couldn’t even speak,” Beasley said. “I was almost in tears when I called my mom and dad. I remember I was in Chicago, laying on the couch. It was after training and I think I was about to take a nap. Bruce called and said you’re going to the World Cup. I was like for real?
“When I was playing, I knew I had a chance, because I was getting called into camps, then I was playing well, but then you heard ‘What if he’s too young?’ But for myself, I felt that I had a chance.”
Beasley’s phone continued to be called in 2006, again by Arena, then in 2010 under Bob Bradley and 2014 under Jurgen Klinsmann.
He finished with 11 appearances in the four tournaments.
The 2010 call was a special one for Beasley.
“In 2010, I was on the outskirts, looking in,” he said of the potential World Cup roster. “That’s when Bob Bradley was the head coach and I didn’t have a great season at Rangers. I got injured a lot and they straight up told me, you’re on the outside looking in coming into this World Cup camp. There’s 30 players, right now you’re not on the 23-man roster. So making that squad, I would say I felt more relief.”
Beasley only made one appearance in the 2010 tournament, but returned in 2014 and played in all four games. He eventually retired from the national team later that year.
Beasley wrapped up his professional career in 2019 with the Houston Dynamo in MLS. He was inducted into the Soccer Hall of Fame in 2022. Recently he has moved into the media side, working as a pre- and post-game commentator on USMNT games. Like all former players, he’s looking forward to how the 2026 U.S. roster navigates its way through the World Cup.
“They have pressure every time they play for their clubs,” Beasley said. “You look at some of the clubs that they play for. You look at Alex Zendejas, he at Club America in Mexico City, one of the biggest clubs in the world. Every time he steps on the field, there’s pressure. Same with the guys in Europe, from AC Milan, Juventus.
“I never played on home soil in the World Cup, so I can’t relate to that and how that feels, but just from a World Cup standpoint, I think I see a sense of calmness in the group because they understand this is a huge opportunity, collectively and obviously individually, to maybe going and better your (club) situation. I think they understand that part.”
Beasley also pointed to the ability to seize the moment, like the 2002 team beating Portugal (in the group stage) and advancing to the quarterfinals and the 2010 team advancing on Landon Donovan’s late goal against Algeria.
“That’s what this game is about, moments,” Beasley said. “We might not have strongest group, but at the same time, it’s about moments. No one gave us a shot in ‘02 to beat Portugal. They were in their golden years — (Luis) Figo, (Sergio) Conceicao, Rui Costa — they were the favorites to win the World Cup. No one gave us a shot, a shot in hell to win that match, and we won 3-2. It’s still a game and it’s about moments and it’s about can you take advantage of those moments.
“Being able to be on the field, in some of the biggest moments in football history in this country, is something I’ll never forget. It gives me goosebumps still just talking about it. I hope this team embraces this World Cup. I hope they enjoy the moments as a group and make their own because that’s what the World Cup is about.”