US National Soccer Hall of Fame elects Rapinoe, Beckham and others

Megan Rapinoe, Jozy Altidore, Julie Ertz, David Beckham, Tatu and Lothar Osiander were elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s 2027 class, the Hall announced on 12 November 2026. Their selection recognizes careers spanning international, club and indoor soccer, as well as coaching in the United States.

Rapinoe, Altidore and Ertz entered through the player ballot, each in their first year of eligibility. Beckham and Tatu were elected on the veteran ballot, while Osiander was selected on the builder ballot.

World champions and a scoring record

Rapinoe won two Women’s World Cups, an Olympic gold medal and the 2019 Ballon d’Or. She retired from the national team in 2023 with 63 goals and 73 assists in 203 appearances. She played for Seattle Reign FC from the league’s inaugural season in 2013 until her retirement, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in 2022.

Rapinoe said being recognized alongside great players, teammates and friends was special and reflected her place on successful teams.

Altidore played in two World Cups and scored 42 goals in 115 US national-team appearances, placing him third in the team’s scoring history. He also scored Toronto FC’s winning goal in the 2017 MLS Cup championship.

Ertz, a defender and defensive midfielder, played in three Women’s World Cups, winning with the US in 2015 and 2019. U.S. Soccer named her its women’s player of the year in 2017 and 2019. She played for Chicago Red Stars from 2014 to 2021 and had a short spell with Angel City FC in 2023.

Veterans and a coach

Beckham won six Premier League titles with Manchester United before joining LA Galaxy in 2007. He won consecutive league championships with the Galaxy in 2011 and 2012 and after retiring as a player became a co-owner of Inter Miami CF. After learning of his election, Beckham called the journey incredible, said he intended to keep building the league and the sport in the US, and gave thanks.

Tatu, whose real name is Antonio Carlos Pecorari, is a Brazilian forward who scored 857 regular-season goals over a 21-year indoor soccer career. He is the third indoor player elected to the Hall.

Osiander coached the US senior national team from 1986 to 1988 and its under-23 team from 1988 to 1992, including the men’s Olympic teams in 1988 and 1992. He was the Galaxy’s first coach and took the team to the inaugural MLS Cup final in 1996; he later coached the San Jose Clash in 1999 and 2000.

How the voting worked

On the player ballot, the two leading candidates must each receive at least 50% support; a third can be elected with at least 75%. The veteran ballot elects the leader with at least 50% and permits a second selection with at least 75%. The builder ballot considered coaches in this rotation and elected the leader with at least 50%.

The Hall says the six will be inducted at a private ceremony on 16 April 2027 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco. ESPN described the location as Plano, Texas.