Rapinoe, Ertz, Beckham elected to Soccer Hall

Megan Rapinoe, Julie Ertz and Jozy Altidore have been elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s 2027 class in their first year of eligibility, joining David Beckham, Brazilian indoor soccer star Tatu and coach Lothar Osiander. Rapinoe and Ertz played central roles in the U.S. women’s team’s 2015 and 2019 World Cup victories; Rapinoe also won Olympic gold, the 2019 Ballon d’Or and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and learned of her election in a surprise at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Rapinoe made 203 national-team appearances, while Ertz earned 123 caps and won two U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year awards. Altidore scored 42 goals for the U.S. men’s team and the decisive goal in Toronto FC’s 2017 MLS Cup win; Beckham was recognized for his impact on U.S. soccer as a player and club owner. The six inductees are scheduled to be honored at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, on April 16, 2027.