STWF Sports | FRISCO, Texas| August 20, 2026 — The National Soccer Hall of Fame has taken another major step toward shaping its Class of 2027, unveiling the finalists across the Player, Veteran and Builder ballots ahead of the induction ceremony scheduled for April 16 in Frisco.
The 2027 finalist pool includes 20 candidates on the Player ballot, 10 on the Veteran ballot and four on the Builder ballot. Over the coming weeks, Hall of Fame voting committees will meet before selecting as many as six new inductees.
A maximum of three Players, two Veterans and one Builder can be elected.
The Player ballot features a notable mix of first-year candidates and returning finalists, led by several of the most recognizable names in American soccer.
The Importance of the National Soccer Hall
Nine candidates are appearing on the final ballot in their first year of eligibility: Ozzie Alonso, Jozy Altidore, Michael Bradley, Julie Johnston Ertz, Ali Krieger, Jessica McDonald, Megan Rapinoe, Natalie Russo-Dickey and Graham Zusi. Each last played in 2023 before becoming eligible for consideration.
Their arrival adds significant depth to a ballot that also includes established returning candidates such as Kyle Beckerman, Matt Besler, Dwayne DeRosario, Jermaine Jones, Robbie Keane, Samantha Mewis, Amy Rodriguez and Diego Valeri.
Former U.S. international defender Oguchi Onyewu enters a particularly important election cycle. The 2027 vote represents his final year of eligibility in the Player category. If he is not elected, Onyewu will move to the Veteran Eligibility List beginning next year.
The election process is designed to reward both broad support and overwhelming consensus.
The two Player candidates receiving the most votes will be automatically elected if they appear on at least 50 percent of the ballots. A third Player can also earn induction by receiving support on at least 75 percent of ballots.
The Veteran ballot brings another collection of influential figures from different eras of the sport.
Among the finalists are David Beckham, Clint Mathis, Lorrie Fair, Tiffany Roberts, Homare Sawa, Tatu and Aly Wagner. Ken Cooper Sr. also returns to consideration after previously being sunsetted from eligibility and restored to the list for this election cycle.
Similar to the Player category, the Veteran receiving the most votes and appearing on at least half of the ballots will earn automatic induction. A second Veteran can join the class by clearing the 75-percent threshold.
The Builder ballot will focus exclusively on coaches for the Class of 2027.
The four finalists are Clive Charles, Lothar Osiander, Lincoln Phillips and Pia Sundhage.
Since the 2022 election, the Hall of Fame has rotated Builder consideration among referees, coaches and contributors, with some election years drawing from the full pool. This year’s process places the spotlight squarely on coaching contributions.
The top Builder vote-getter will be elected if named on at least 50 percent of the ballots.
With the finalist stage now set, the attention shifts to the voting committees and a ballot featuring decorated international stars, Major League Soccer standouts, U.S. national team contributors and influential coaches.
By April, another group will officially join the history of American soccer in Frisco, where the Hall of Fame will welcome its Class of 2027.
