National Soccer Hall of Fame to Induct Class of 2023 at May 6 Ceremony

USMNT’s Beasley, Donovan Join USWNT Icons Ellis, Holiday and Markgraf — and Indoor Legend Zungul — in Class of 2023 

FRISCO, Texas (May 5, 2023) — The National Soccer Hall of Fame will induct the six members of its 2023 class — DaMarcus Beasley, Landon Donovan, Jill Ellis, Lauren Cheney Holiday, Kate Sobrero Markgraf and Slavisa “Steve” Zungul — at a ceremony on Saturday, May 6, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. 

The Hall of Fame also will induct former U.S. Women’s National Team goalkeeper Hope Solo, who deferred her ceremony after being chosen for the 2022 class.

The ceremony will honor Grant Wahl as the posthumous recipient of the 2023 Colin Jose Media Award, which honors journalists whose careers have made significant long-term contributions to soccer in the United States. Wahl died at age 49 in December while covering the World Cup in Qatar. 

Fans can watch a livestream of the private event on the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s website beginning at 1 p.m. Central time. 

“These inductees are amazing examples of the growth and strength of soccer in our country,” said Djorn Buchholz, executive director of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. “They represent so much of what makes the game special here, from the excellence of our national teams to our first-division domestic leagues as well. 

“Their careers and their contributions are the embodiment of what we celebrate at the National Soccer Hall of Fame.” 

A defender and midfielder, Beasley made 126 appearances for the U.S. Men’s National Team between 2001 and 2017 and was the first American man to play in four World Cups. He played 11 seasons in Major League Soccer, with one Best XI selection and two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles. 

A forward and midfielder, Donovan made 157 appearances for the U.S. Men’s National Team, including three World Cups and one Olympic Games. Donovan is second only to Cobi Jones on the list of all-time national team appearances, and his 57 goals with the USMNT tied him with Clint Dempsey as the all-time leader. Donovan played 15 seasons in MLS, with seven Best XI selections, and when he retired was the all-time MLS goal-scoring leader. 

The coach who guided the U.S. Women’s National Team to World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019, Ellis led the USWNT for seven years (2012 and 2014-2019). She also coached the U.S. team at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in 2010.

A midfielder who starred in the U.S. team that won the 2015 Women’s World Cup, Holiday made 133 appearances for the USWNT and played five professional seasons with two Best XI selections. She also played in the 2011 Women’s World Cup and won gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. 

A defender who was a regular in the U.S. team that won the 1999 Women’s World Cup, Markgraf played 201 games for the U.S. Women’s National Team between 1998 and 2010, including appearances in three World Cups and three Olympic Games. In addition to the 1999 World Cup, Markgraf played for the U.S. teams that won gold medals in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. 

A forward who defected from Yugoslavia in 1978 when he was a rising star on the Yugoslav national team, Zungul played 11 seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League for the New York Arrows, Golden Bay Earthquakes, San Diego Sockers and Tacoma Stars. He was a first-team all-MISL selection eight times, the league’s MVP six times, the league’s scoring leader six times and a league champion seven times (four with New York and three with San Diego). 

Solo played 202 full internationals as goalkeeper for the U.S. Women’s National Team between 2000 and 2016, winning two Olympic gold medals and a Women’s World Cup championship. She won the Golden Glove, awarded by FIFA, as the outstanding goalkeeper at both the 2011 and 2015 Women’s World Cups. 

Full 2023 voting results and complete information about election and eligibility procedures are available 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.