Carli Lloyd, Chris Armas, Nick Rimando, and Mary Harvey have been elected to the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame, alongside former Major League Soccer executive Mark Abbott. The induction ceremony is scheduled for May 3.
Lloyd, making her debut on the ballot, received an impressive 47 out of 48 votes (97.9%) from the player selection committee. The 42-year-old midfielder is renowned for her pivotal role in the U.S. victory over Japan in the 2015 World Cup final, where she scored a hat trick. With 134 goals, she ranks third in U.S. women’s soccer history, trailing only Abby Wambach (184) and Mia Hamm (158). Lloyd also boasts 316 international appearances, second only to Kristine Lilly’s 354. She has won the World Cup twice (2015, 2019) and Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012, and was named FIFA’s Best Women’s Player in both 2015 and 2016.
Rimando, who received 35 votes (72.9%) in his third appearance on the ballot, saw a significant increase from his previous years (47.9% last year, 60.3% two years ago). The 45-year-old goalkeeper made 22 international appearances, starting in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup and serving as a backup during the 2014 World Cup. Over his 20-season MLS career with Miami, D.C. United, and Real Salt Lake, he won championships with D.C. in 2004 and Salt Lake in 2009, where he was named MVP of the final.
Harvey garnered 23 out of 24 votes (95.8%) from the veterans selection committee. At 59, she was part of the inaugural U.S. team that won the World Cup in 1991 and earned an Olympic gold medal in 1996, making 27 international appearances throughout her career.
Armas received 19 votes (79.2%), tying with Tony Sanneh but winning the tiebreaker based on preliminary ballot screening points. The 52-year-old defender scored two goals in 66 international appearances. He missed the 2002 World Cup due to an ACL injury sustained in a pre-tournament friendly. Armas played for the LA Galaxy and Chicago Fire from 1996 to 2007 and has coached the New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC, currently leading the Colorado Rapids.
To be elected, a candidate must appear on 50% or more of the player ballots, with a third being elected if they receive at least 75%. Chris Wondolowski finished third in the player vote with 28 votes (58.3%) in his first ballot appearance, followed by Lori Chalupny and Amy Rodriguez (27 votes, 56.3% each). Other notable candidates included Cat Reddick Whitehill (26, 54.2%), Keith Johnson (23, 47.9%), and Kyle Beckerman (22, 45.8%).
On the veterans ballot, Tatu led with 15 votes (62.5%), followed by Clint Mathis (12, 50%) and Kevin Crow (9, 37.5%). Armas’s tiebreaker win over Sanneh was due to his higher preliminary ballot screening points.
Abbott, who was MLS’s first employee in 1993 and served as president and deputy commissioner from 2013 to 2022, earned 19 out of 24 votes (79.2%) on the builder ballot, which includes coaches, referees, and contributors. Clive Charles followed with 16 votes (66.7%).
The Hall of Fame continues to recognize the contributions of these individuals to the sport, celebrating their legacies in American soccer.
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