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National Soccer Hall of Fame facts for kids

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National Soccer Hall of Fame
National soccer hall fame logo.png
National Soccer Hall of Fame - Frisco TX - June 2021 - 001.jpg
Main entrance to the NSHF in 2021
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Established 1950 (1950) (as institution in 1979)
Location Toyota Stadium
Frisco, Texas
Type Professional sports hall of fame
Visitors 17,000 per year

The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a special place that honors amazing achievements in soccer in the United States. It's like a museum and a hall of fame all in one! Being chosen for the Hall of Fame is the biggest honor you can get in American soccer.

It started in 1950 and became an official organization in 1979. Today, you can find it inside Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Frisco is a city near Dallas.

History of the Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame was created in 1950 by a group called the Philadelphia "Old-timers" Association. These were former professional and amateur soccer players. They wanted to celebrate the great things people had done in American soccer.

The Museum's Journey

The first Hall of Fame museum opened on June 12, 1999. It was located in Oneonta, New York. This museum had the Hall of Fame, a library, and fun interactive areas. You could even play soccer there!

The Hall of Fame worked with the United States National Soccer Team Players Association. They created a program called "Time In." This program honored people connected to soccer who were fighting leukemia. Many of these honorees were young soccer players. This is because leukemia often affects children.

For a long time, many early soccer stars were not recognized. But in 2005, things changed. The Hall of Fame found many old records. These records helped them find five amazing players from before 1950. They were called the "Magnificent Five." These players were Tommy Fleming, Alex McNab, Johnny Nelson, Werner Nilsen, and Fabri Salcedo. They were added to the Hall of Fame after they had passed away.

In 2009, the museum in Oneonta faced money problems. It had to close to the public most of the time. Many employees also lost their jobs. By February 2010, the museum facility closed completely. But the Hall of Fame still continued to choose new members each year.

Then, in September 2015, exciting news came out! A brand new Hall of Fame museum would be built. It would be at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. This stadium is also home to the Major League Soccer team, FC Dallas. The new museum opened on October 20, 2018. It has even more cool soccer items and modern, interactive exhibits.

The Hall of Fame Archive

When the first museum closed, its huge collection of over 80,000 items was moved. These items went to different places across the country. The collection includes many important pieces of soccer history.

Some of the special items in the archive are:

  • The oldest soccer ball ever made in the United States.
  • The Women's World Cup Trophies from 1991, 1999, 2015, and 2019.
  • Old records from the North American Soccer League.
  • Records from the 1994 FIFA World Cup held in the U.S.
  • A rare collection of soccer photos from the 1930s.
  • Items from U.S. national teams that played in the World Cup.
  • Things from the American Soccer League of the 1920s and 1950s.
  • Pelé’s jersey from when he played for the New York Cosmos.
  • The Lamar Hunt Open Cup trophy.
  • Mia Hamm’s cleats.
  • Items celebrating the first U.S. World Cup team from 1930.

Who Can Join the Hall of Fame?

People can be chosen for the Hall of Fame in three main groups: Player, Builder, and Veteran (player). New members are added every year.

Players

To be a Player in the Hall of Fame, someone must meet certain rules:

  1. They must have stopped playing soccer for at least three years. But it can't be more than 10 years since they stopped.
  2. They must have played in at least 20 international games for the United States. If they played before 1990, they only need 10 games.
  3. They must have played at least five seasons in a top professional league in America. This includes leagues like MLS or NWSL. They also need to have won a league championship or the U.S. Open Cup. Or, they must have been chosen as a league all-star at least once.

Veterans

Players who meet rules #2 or #3 but stopped playing more than 10 years ago can be considered as Veterans.

Builders

This group is for people who have made a big, lasting, and good impact on soccer in the United States. This means people who helped grow the sport, but not as players. For example, coaches, team owners, or league organizers.

Medal of Honor

The National Soccer Hall of Fame's Medal of Honor is the highest award given. It goes to people who have really helped soccer grow in the United States. The award is for those who "showed vision and played a historic role in changing the path of soccer in America." This special medal has only been given out four times in history.

Number Awarded Name Achievements
1 1998 Alan Rothenberg Led the 1994 World Cup
President of U.S. Soccer (1990–98)
Helped start MLS
2 1999 Lamar Hunt Co-founder of the NASL (1967–84)
Owned 3 MLS teams
Built a soccer stadium
3 2001 1991 Women's national team Won the first Women's World Cup
4 2006 Phil Anschutz Very important in growing U.S. soccer
Owned many MLS teams
Helped MLS build soccer-specific stadiums

Annual Inductions

Each year, new members are chosen for the National Soccer Hall of Fame. These new members are celebrated in a special ceremony. Many famous players, coaches, and people who helped build the sport have been inducted.

For example, in 2009, Jeff Agoos and Joy Fawcett joined as Players. In 2012, Tony Meola and Claudio Reyna were inducted. More recently, in 2023, DaMarcus Beasley, Landon Donovan, Lauren Holiday, Kate Markgraf, Steve Zungul, and Hope Solo were inducted as Players. Jill Ellis joined as a Builder.

Inductees

Here is a list of some of the amazing people who have been inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Players

  • Jeff Agoos – 2009
  • Michelle Akers – 2004
  • Carlos Alberto – 2006
  • Robert Annis – 1976
  • Desmond Armstrong – 2012
  • Andrew Auld – 1986
  • Adolph Bachmeier – 2002
  • Walter Bahr – 1976
  • Marcelo Balboa – 2005
  • George Barr – 1983
  • Fred Beardsworth – 1965
  • DaMarcus Beasley – 2022
  • 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 Chastain – 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
  • 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
  • Jimmy Dunn – 1974
  • Alex Ely – 1997
  • Marco Etcheverry – 2022
  • Joy Fawcett – 2009
  • Jock Ferguson – 1950
  • Tommy Fleming – 2005
  • Thomas Florie – 1986
  • Julie Foudy – 2007
  • Werner Fricker – 1992
  • Brad Friedel – 2018
  • William Fryer – 1951
  • Joe Gaetjens – 1976
  • Jimmy Gallagher – 1986
  • Gino Gardassanich – 1976
  • James Gentle – 1986
  • Rudy Getzinger – 1991
  • Teddy Glover – 1965
  • Billy Gonsalves – 1950
  • Bob Gormley – 1989
  • Sheldon Govier – 1950
  • Karl-Heinz Granitza – 2003
  • Joseph Gryzik – 1973
  • Mia Hamm – 2007
  • Linda Hamilton – 2022
  • Al Harker – 1979
  • John Harkes – 2005
  • April Heinrichs – 1998
  • Shannon Higgins – 2002
  • Lauren Holiday – 2023
  • Tim Howard - 2024
  • Jack Hynes – 1977
  • Johnny Jaap – 1953
  • Carin Jennings-Gabarra – 2000
  • Cobi Jones – 2011
  • Kasey Keller – 2015
  • Harry Keough – 1976
  • Nicholas Kropfelder – 1996
  • Rudolph Kuntner – 1963
  • Alexi Lalas – 2006
  • Millard Lang – 1950
  • Bob Lenarduzzi – 2003
  • Kristine Lilly – 2014
  • William Looby – 2001
  • Joe Maca – 1976
  • Kate Markgraf – 2023
  • Arnie Mausser – 2003
  • Brian McBride – 2014
  • Pat McBride – 1994
  • Bart McGhee – 1986
  • Johnny McGuire – 1951
  • Ed McIlvenny – 1976
  • Benny McLaughlin – 1981
  • Shannon MacMillan – 2016
  • Alex McNab – 2005
  • Tony Meola – 2012
  • Werner Mieth – 1974
  • Tiffany Milbrett – 2018
  • Robert Millar – 1950
  • Lloyd Monsen – 1994
  • Joe-Max Moore – 2013
  • Johnny Moore – 1997
  • George Moorhouse – 1986
  • Jaime Moreno – 2021
  • Robert Morrison – 1951
  • Ed Murphy – 1998
  • Bruce Murray – 2011
  • Glenn Myernick – 2015
  • John Nanoski – 1993
  • John Nelson – 2005
  • Werner Nilsen – 2005
  • Patrick Ntsoelengoe – 2003
  • Shamus O'Brien – 1990
  • Gene Olaff – 1971
  • Arnold Oliver – 1968
  • Len Oliver – 1996
  • Carla Overbeck – 2006
  • Gino Pariani – 1976
  • Cindy Parlow – 2018
  • Bert Patenaude – 1971
  • Christie Pearce – 2021
  • Pelé – 1993
  • Hugo Perez – 2008
  • Eddie Pope – 2011
  • Preki – 2010
  • Tab Ramos – 2005
  • Harry Ratican – 1950
  • Peter Renzulli – 1951
  • Claudio Reyna – 2012
  • Jimmy Roe – 1997
  • Kyle Rote, Jr. – 2010
  • Werner Roth – 1989
  • Willy Roy – 1989
  • Francis Ryan – 1958
  • Fabri Salcedo – 2005
  • Willy Schaller – 1995
  • Briana Scurry – 2017
  • Philip Slone – 1986
  • Bobby Smith – 2007
  • Hope Solo – 2022
  • Ed Souza – 1976
  • John Souza – 1976
  • Dick Spalding – 1950
  • Archie Stark – 1950
  • Earnie Stewart – 2011
  • Thomas Swords – 1951
  • George Tintle – 1952
  • Raphael Tracey – 1986
  • Al Trost – 2006
  • Frank Vaughn – 1986
  • Peter Vermes – 2013
  • Frank Wallace – 1976
  • Abby Wambach – 2019
  • Alex Weir – 1975
  • Alan Willey – 2003
  • Bruce Wilson – 2003
  • Peter Wilson – 1950
  • Mike Windischmann – 2004
  • Adam Wolanin – 1976
  • Alexander Wood – 1986
  • Eric Wynalda – 2004
  • Al Zerhusen – 1978
  • Steve Zungul – 2023

Builders

  • Umberto Abronzino – 1971
  • Milton Aimi – 1991
  • Julius Garcia Alonso – 1972
  • William Anderson – 1956
  • Philip Anschutz – 2006
  • John Ardizzone – 1971
  • Bruce Arena – 2010
  • James Armstrong – 1952
  • Esse Baharmast – 2022
  • Joseph J. Barriskill – 1953
  • Clay Berling – 1995
  • John O. Best – 1982
  • Joseph Booth – 1952
  • Matthew Boxer – 1961
  • Bob Bradley – 2014
  • Gordon Bradley – 1996
  • Lawrence E. Briggs – 1978
  • John Brock – 1950
  • Andrew M. Brown – 1950
  • Thomas W. Cahill – 1950
  • Bob Contiguglia – 2018
  • Walter Chyzowych – 1997
  • John Coll – 1986
  • George M. Collins – 1951
  • Peter Collins – 1998
  • Colin Commander – 1967
  • Ted Cordery – 1975
  • Robert B. Craddock – 1959
  • Edmund Craggs – 1969
  • George Craggs – 1981
  • Wilfred R. Cummings – 1953
  • Joseph Delach – 1973
  • Enzo DeLuca – 1979
  • Tony DiCicco – 2012
  • Edward J. Donaghy – 1951
  • George Donnelly – 1989
  • Anson Dorrance – 2008
  • John W. Dresmich – 1968
  • Duncan Duff – 1972
  • Gene Edwards – 1985
  • Jill Ellis – 2023
  • Rudy Epperlein – 1951
  • Ahmet Ertegun – 2003
  • Nesuhi Ertegun – 2003
  • Harry Fairfield – 1951
  • Ernst Feibusch – 1984
  • John A. Fernley – 1951
  • Charles Ferro – 1958
  • George E. Fishwick – 1954
  • Jack Flamhaft – 1964
  • Harry G. Fleming – 1967
  • Powys A.L. Foulds – 1953
  • Samuel T.N. Foulds – 1969
  • Daniel W. Fowler – 1970
  • Margaret Fowler – 1979
  • Bob Gansler – 2011
  • Don Garber – 2016 (deferred to 2018)
  • Pete Garcia – 1964
  • Walter Giesler – 1962
  • David Gould – 1953
  • Donald Greer – 1985
  • Bob Guelker – 1980
  • G.K. Guennel – 1980
  • Sunil Gulati – 2019
  • George Healey – 1951
  • Herbert Heilpern – 1988
  • William Hemmings – 1961
  • Bob Hermann – 2001
  • Ted Howard – 2003
  • Maurice Hudson – 1966
  • Lamar Hunt – 1982
  • Alfredda Iglehart – 1951
  • William Jeffrey – 1951
  • Jack Johnston – 1952
  • Mike Kabanica – 1987
  • John Kalloch – 1964
  • Bob Kehoe – 1989
  • Frank J. Kelly – 1994
  • George Kempton – 1950
  • Paul Klein – 1953
  • Alfred Kleinaitis – 1995
  • Oscar Koszma – 1964
  • Frank Kracher – 1983
  • Raymond G. Kraft – 1984
  • Harry Kraus – 1963
  • Kurt Lamm – 1979
  • Bertil Larson – 1988
  • Horace Edgar Lewis – 1950
  • Giuseppe "Joseph" Lombardo – 1984
  • Dennis Long – 1993
  • John J. MacEwan – 1953
  • Joe Machnik – 2017
  • Enzo Magnozzi – 1977
  • Jack Maher – 1970
  • G. Randolph Manning – 1950
  • John Marre – 1953
  • Allan McClay – 1971
  • Frank J. McGrath – 1978
  • James McGuire – 1951
  • Dent McSkimming – 1951
  • Peter Merovich – 1971
  • Al Miller – 1995
  • Milton Miller – 1971
  • Jimmy Mills – 1954
  • James Moore – 1971
  • William Morrissette – 1967
  • Fred Netto – 1958
  • Ron Newman – 1992
  • Dimitrious Niotis – 1963
  • William Palmer – 1952
  • Kevin Payne – 2021
  • Edward Pearson – 1990
  • Peter Peel – 1951
  • Wally Peters – 1967
  • Don Phillipson – 1987
  • Giorgio Piscopo – 1978
  • Edgar Pomeroy – 1955
  • Arnold Ramsden – 1957
  • Vernon R. Reese – 1957
  • J. Eugene Ringsdorf – 1979
  • Elizabeth Robbie – 2003
  • Joe Robbie – 2003
  • Steve Ross – 2003
  • Jack J. Rottenberg – 1971
  • Thomas Sagar – 1968
  • Harry Saunders – 1981
  • Manfred Schellscheidt – 1990
  • Emil Schillinger – 1960
  • Sigi Schmid – 2015
  • Elmer Schroeder – 1951
  • Ernő Schwarz – 1951
  • Fred Shields – 1968
  • Erwin Single – 1981
  • Alfred A. Smith – 1951
  • Patrick Smith – 1998
  • Reinhold Spath – 1996
  • Nicolaas Steelink – 1971
  • Hank Steinbrecher – 2005
  • Lee Stern – 2003
  • August Steuer – 1969
  • Douglas T. Stewart – 1950
  • Robert T. Stone – 1971
  • Clive Toye – 2003
  • Joseph Triner – 1952
  • James A. Walder – 1971
  • Adolph Washauer – 1977
  • Thomas Webb – 1987
  • Victor Weston – 1956
  • John Wood – 1953
  • Phil Woosnam – 1997
  • Jerry Yeagley – 1989
  • John Young – 1958
  • Daniel Zampini – 1963

Colin Jose Media Award

The Colin Jose Media Award honors people in the media. This means writers, reporters, or photographers. It's given to those who have made "exceptional and lasting" contributions to soccer in the United States. The award is named after Colin Jose. He was the official historian for the Hall of Fame for many years. He is known around the world for his knowledge of North American soccer history.

  • 2004: Jerry Trecker
  • 2005: Seamus Malin
  • 2007: George Tiedemann
  • 2008: Ike Kuhns
  • 2009: Alex Yannis
  • 2010: Paul Gardner
  • 2012: Grahame L. Jones
  • 2013: George Vecsey
  • 2016: Paul Kennedy
  • 2017: Jim Trecker
  • 2018: JP Dellacamera
  • 2019: Tony Quinn (photographer)
  • 2020: Andrés Cantor
  • 2023: Grant Wahl

MLS Hall of Fame Game

The MLS Hall of Fame Game used to be a friendly soccer match. It was played every year between two MLS teams. This game happened at At-A-Glance Field in Oneonta, NY. It was played around the same time as the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Date Winning Team Score Losing Team Score
October 11, 2004 MetroStars 2 Chicago Fire 0
August 29, 2005 D.C. United 6 Colorado Rapids 2
September 6, 2006 New York Red Bulls vs. Columbus Crew

Images for kids

  • National Soccer Hall of Fame Exterior

    Former National Soccer Hall of Fame Museum in Oneonta, New York

  • Soccerhofame

    Giant ball going out of the former National Soccer Hall of Fame Museum

Rendering of the future building for the National Soccer Hall of Fame
Rendering of the new National Soccer Hall of Fame building in Frisco, Texas. It opened on October 20, 2018.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: National Soccer Hall of Fame para niños

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