National Soccer Hall of Fame Announces Final Ballots for Election to 2021 Class
Newly chosen Voting Committees to select from among 40 candidates; ceremony scheduled for May 22
FRISCO, TEXAS — The National Soccer Hall of Fame at Toyota Stadium today released the names of the finalists for election to the Class of 2021, including 20 on the Player ballot and 10 apiece on the Veteran and Builder ballots.
The Hall of Fame’s new Selection Committees will vote Friday through Feb. 10 to select a class of two to four members. The 2021 class will be announced in March.
The 2021 Hall of Fame ceremony is scheduled for May 22 and will enshrine both the 2020 class (Carlos Bocanegra and Colin Jose Media Award Winner Andrés Cantor) and the 2021 class. The ceremony will take place in the National Soccer Hall of Fame, which is powered by NEC, followed by the Hall of Fame game between FC Dallas and a yet-to-be-named opponent and a concert featuring Willie Nelson.
Player Ballot Finalists
- David Beckham
- Gregg Berhalter
- Shannon Boxx
- Lori Chalupny
- Lauren Cheney Holiday
- Steve Cherundolo
- Kevin Hartman
- Frankie Hejduk
- Thierry Henry
- Keith Johnson
- Shalrie Joseph
- Pablo Mastroeni
- Josh McKinney
- Heather Mitts
- Oguchi Onyewu
- Christie Pearce Rampone
- Cat Reddick Whitehill
- Hope Solo
- Aly Wagner
- Josh Wolff
Berhalter and Hejduk are in their final year of eligibility in the Player category; if they are not elected, they will appear on the Veteran ballot next year. Five candidates — Johnson, Joseph, McKinney, Onyewu and Pearce Rampone — were selected to the Final Ballot in their first year of eligibility.
Johnson and McKinney were chosen to the Final Ballot following changes in 2020 that created a path to eligibility for U.S. Extended National Teams, including the Men’s and Women’s Para 7-a-Side National Teams, the Futsal National Team and the Men’s and Women’s Beach Soccer National Teams.
In addition to the 20 Finalists, 17 other players received Preliminary Ballot votes. The four eligible players who did not receive any votes — Kenny Cooper, Sebastien LeToux, Matt Stewart and Brittany Taylor — will be removed from the Player Eligibility List via the sunset rule. Each will regain eligibility on the Veteran list after 10 full years of retirement.
Veteran Ballot Finalists
- Marco Etcheverry
- Linda Hamilton
- Angela Hucles
- Clint Mathis
- Shep Messing
- Jaime Moreno
- Steve Ralston
- Tony Sanneh
- Kate Sobrero Markgraf
- Tisha Venturini-Hoch
Builder Ballot Finalists
- Esse Baharmast
- Clive Charles
- Joe Cummings
- Richard Groff
- Brian Hall
- Sandra Hunt
- Tim Leiweke
- Francisco Marcos
- Kevin Payne
- Kari Seitz
Depending on the year, only referees, coaches or contributors will be considered for induction, and every four years — including 2021 — all eligible Builders will be considered for election.
New voting rules and procedures ensure that two to four candidates will be elected annually.
- If both a Veteran and a Builder are being elected, the top two vote earners from the Player ballot also will be elected.
- If either a Veteran or a Builder are not being elected, the top three vote-earning Players will be elected if all three received at least 66.7% of the Voting Committee’s votes.
- If neither a Veteran nor a Builder are being elected, the top three vote-earning Players will be elected if all three received at least 50% of the Voting Committee’s votes.
- Candidates must be named to at least 50% of Voting Committee ballots to be elected.
More Information
Complete information about the election and eligibility procedures is available online at NationalSoccerHoF.com. The election process is administered by National Soccer Hall of Fame staff under election and eligibility guidelines established by the Hall of Fame Board of Directors.
Established in 1950, the National Soccer Hall of Fame is dedicated to the sport of soccer in America by celebrating its history, preserving its legacy, inspiring its youth and honoring its heroes for generations to come.
2021 Player Final Ballot Biographies
2021 Veteran Final Ballot Biographies
2021 Builder Final Ballot Biographies
List of 2021 NSHOF Selection Committee Members
ABOUT THE NATIONAL SOCCER HALL OF FAME
The National Soccer Hall of Fame at Toyota Stadium opened to the public in Frisco, Texas, on Nov. 2, 2018, after calling Oneonta, N.Y., its home from 1983 through 2010.
The Hall of Fame marries artifacts — including all four FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophies won by the U.S. National Team — with technology such as facial recognition powered by NEC and virtual reality to deliver the most personalized experience in sports.
The 2021 National Soccer Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for May 22. It will be a combined ceremony that will enshrine members of the 2020 and 2021 classes. The 2020 ceremony was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is powered by NEC and additionally sponsored by Major League Soccer, Heineken, Pepsi and WinStar World Casino and Resort.