Eddie Pope, the USA’s top defender over the last decade, has followed veterans Brian McBride and Claudio Reyna into national team retirement. All three played for the USA at the last three World Cups.
Pope, 32, made 82 appearances and scored eight goals since debuting for the USA in 1996. He played in nine World Cup games and 31 World Cup qualifying games.
The Real Salt Lake defender was slated to play for the MLS All-Stars on Saturday against Chelsea but is suffering from a foot injury and has been replaced by D.C. United Argentine defender Facundo Erpen.