Adams “feeling great” after Chicago cameo

CHICAGO, Ill. — Few players were more pivotal to Gregg Berhalter's U.S. Men's National Team than Tyler Adams. The holding midfielder appeared 33 times under Berhalter, and captained his country at the most recent World Cup in Qatar; he remains a central figure for the U.S. and is gearing up for his third season at AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League.

Last night, Adams took the field in Chicago for the first time since his MLS days with the New York Red Bulls. It was also his first outing on U.S. soil since then, outside of international matches.

“It's fun to be back out here with the team in the States,” Adams told MIR97 Media postgame on Wednesday. “It'a my first preseason in the States that I'm a part of, so it's fun to be able to show the boys what it's like to play here. Obviously, the weather was not ideal, a little bit of a taste of what it's like to play in Chicago, but it feels good to be back out there.”

Adams joined Bournemouth's preseason midway through – he was granted some extra time off after the Gold Cup final, a period which he used to marry his longtime partner, Sarah Schmidt – and arrived in Chicago in time to train on Tuesday.

Berhalter “Building Something” in Chicago

From the moment he took over the USMNT, Berhalter made Adams a key player. Initially as a right back and later as a central midfielder, the now-26-year-old has been a focal point and was arguably the Americans' best player at the 2022 World Cup. It's not a surprise, then, that Adams continues to hold his former coach in high regard.

“Gregg has done a great job and is changing the identity of the club,” Adams said. “He's going to continue to build there. I'm so familiar with the players he's brought it with Brian Gutiérrez, Kellyn Acosta, and Omar González. So I'm familiar with them, I follow their games.”

Under Berhalter, the Fire have impressed in 2025, and turned things around dramatically from a last-place finish a year prior. They eclipsed their 2024 points total by mid-July, and now sit narrowly above the playoff line in ninth place with 10 matches still to play. While reception from the U.S. fans has been mixed toward Berhalter's stint in Chicago, his former captain remains behind him.

“I'm very close with Gregg,” Adams added. “He did a lot for me in my career and helped me. So I always support him.”

Preseason up and running

Since moving to the Premier League in 2022, Adams is yet to complete a full 38-match season without missing major time due to injury. A March 2023 hamstring injury kept him out for the bulk of the 2023/24 season, and he missed the start if of last season with a back injury. Now, for the first time since his debut Premier League campaign, he is hoping to have a full, healthy preseason under his belt.

“I'm feeling great,” Adams said after his first appearance of the preseason. “I think the most important thing for me was to be involved in a preseason and be able to have that run-in. Even last season, missing the first seven games, it's always difficult to get up to full speed when you're in the midst of the season.”

“For me, being involved with the boys, working under the manager, working on new things, just getting minutes under my legs earlier this season, it's a good feeling.”

For Bournemouth, Wednesday's showcase game didn't exactly go as planned. Manchester United jumped to a 4-0 lead by the 72nd minute, and Adams was only introduced for a cameo in the last quarter of an hour. Nonetheless, a deflected David Brooks cross found its way into the net, ensuring that the Cherries didn't leave Chicago completely empty-handed despite the loss.

Although they found themselves on the wrong end of a battering at Soldier Field, there's still plenty of reason for optimism on the south coast of England. Bournemouth finished 9th in the Premier League last season, punching above their weight as the smallest team in the division, and have played exciting football under talented Spanish coach Andoni Iraola. They're gearing up for a season where they even have an outside chance of qualifying for Europe, a lofty goal that will rely heavily on Adams being at his best in the middle of the park.

“I think when you look at the identity of our team, the high pressing, high energy running all over the field, that's something I'm really good at,” Adams said. “I know I can contribute to that. it's about adding a few different variables to my game to continue to help me develop and excel, and this fits our model perfectly.”

Captain America

Though he didn't wear the captain's armband at this year's Gold Cup, Adams is clearly a leader for his national team both on and off the field, and even if he isn't wearing the physical armband, he has been the team's spiritual captain for about four years now. Those leadership qualities haven't gone unnoticed at Bournemouth, either, where he's already beloved by the supporters.

Earlier this week, during a media availability at Chicago's Fire Pitch, Cherries captain Adam Smith was quick to acknowledge Adams as a possible future club captain because of his leadership qualities, something that has made him invaluable for every team he's played for.

“For me, it's leading by example more than anything,” Adams said. “I think I've always been a great leader, vocally in holding people accountable, having conversations with guys, pushing them, motivating them. But I want to continue to show them the best version of me on the field, and I think I'm able to help with team in a different way than a lot of players.”

“My role is obviously important to the team and to the coach. So continuing to build off of that and get the best version of myself with help the team.”