Wappingers Falls' native to lead US in World Cup

Dutchess County’s Tyler Adams named captain of the US Men’s National Soccer Team, the youngest captain since 1950.

As the United States Men’s National Soccer team prepares to take the stage during the World Cup this week, a Hudson Valley native will be leading the charge as their captain.

On Sunday, the day before the team’s opener vs. Wales, Tyler Adams, 23, of Wappingers Falls was named the Captain of the men’s team for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar – the most watched sporting event in the world (even more than the Olympics). Adams is the USMNT’s youngest captain since Walter Bahr at the 1950 World Cup.

Before landing on the world’s stage, Adams would commute daily 75-miles to the NY Red Bulls training facility in Whippany, where he played since he was 11 years old.

“It wasn’t the typical teenage adolescent schedule,” Adams said. “I’m definitely a grinder. I work for everything that I earn. It’s a high risk, high reward mentality.”

Adams, a Ketchum graduate, grew up in a single-parent household before his mom, Melissa Russo, reconnected with old high school classmate and now step-dad, Darryl Sullivan.

“With me being a single parent for a while, he was always very involved in whatever had to be done,” Russo said. “If it snowed and we needed to shovel the driveway, he was out there with me, as little as I can remember, like, ‘Mom, where's my shovel? Mom, what do you need help with?’ He was just always that kid that was willing to do whatever he could to help.”

Adam’s half-brother Dylan followed Tyler’s path through the New York Red Bulls Academy and plays collegiately at Clemson University. Darryl Jr. played collegiate football at Marist College.

“There are a million kids now in this area that really want to be the next Tyler,” his mom said. “For him to come out of here leaves a lot of hope for a lot of the younger kids.”

Watch Tyler and his teammates at the World Cup starting Monday, November 21 at 2pm. Special screenings of all US Men’s World Cup games will take place at The Avalon in Catskill and the Newburgh Brewing Company.