Kyle Beckerman

15. Kyle Beckerman Midfielder | Club: Real Salt Lake Beckerman will be making his World Cup debut at age 32, likely taking a back-up role as a midfield

Liviu Bird | Jun 2, 2014

Kyle Beckerman /

15. Kyle Beckerman

Midfielder | Club: Real Salt Lake

Age	Hometown	Height	Weight	Goals	Caps
32	Crofton, Md.	5-10	165	1	36

Beckerman will be making his World Cup debut at age 32, likely taking a back-up role as a midfield holding block. The Real Salt Lake captain has a reputation as one of MLS’s best protectors of the back line, and his composure with the ball at his feet makes him a savvy distributor.

OUTLOOK: Beckerman is in the odd position of being a natural leader with a lot of professional experience, but very little experience on this stage. If Jermaine Jones gets yellow-card happy, Beckerman will have to be prepared to step in and perform, but until then, his is likely to be a waiting game.

Meet the 23: Complete roster breakdown

Published Jun 2, 2014

LIVIU BIRD

Liviu Bird is a soccer analyst with more than 20 years of experience in the game. He learned how to play in the streets of Romania before moving to the soccer wilderness of Fairbanks, Alaska, escaping to play collegiately as a goalkeeper at Highline Community College and Seattle Pacific University, where he also earned his B.A. in journalism. Bird played semiprofessionally and had tryouts at professional clubs but hung up his gloves in 2012 to focus on writing and coaching at the youth and collegiate levels. He joined Sports Illustrated in March 2013 as a freelance contributor and has also written for NBC Sports, Soccer Wire, The New York Times, American Soccer Now and the Telegraph (UK).