Two-hundred and seven: That’s the number of players who have just one solitary cap with the U.S. men’s national team. Only once did they play in a senior team game. Some of the 207 you have heard of, like former USMNT coach Bruce Arena (1973 vs. Israel), and some you haven’t, like Jimmy Ford (1916 vs. Sweden).
Amazingly, two of these one-cappers got their appearance in a World Cup: Walter Dick, in a 7-1 loss to hosts Italy in 1934, while Adam Wolanin played in the 3-1 loss to Spain at Brazil 1950.
There are oddities, too. Otto Decker scored a brace in a 6-3 loss to England in 1953 and never saw the field again for the Americans. Meanwhile, Gordon Burness originally played for Canada and scored in a 6-1 loss to the U.S. in 1926, before switching to the U.S. and playing his lone game against — wait for it — Canada!
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga and more (U.S.)
The stories of these 207 men in the one-cap club reach far and wide, and ESPN had the opportunity to visit with several of them.
They all offered different perspectives on the experience, but they all agreed on one thing: playing at the highest level for their country was the honor of a lifetime. Their lives have each taken twists and turns since wearing the U.S. shirt, but even though it only happened once, these moments in the history books are forever theirs.
Growing up on Long Island, Cayemitte became one of the top high school players in the area and played at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York. It was there that the national team opportunity arose. “The national team was going around and one of the trainings took place at Hofstra University. I’m not sure how it happened, but my coach, Bob Montgomery, knocked on my door and he said, ‘You have to go try out.’ I said, ‘For what?’ He said, ‘For the national team.’ I thought he was kidding,” said Cayemitte.
Weeks later in Miami, slotted in at right-back, Cayemitte came off the bench and put a halt to the Ecuador attack.
“I went in and focused on anticipating any of the through-balls. I knew I had the speed to catch their left winger. I wouldn’t reach for the ball, so he had to keep cutting back into the center. I went in and did my job,” said a beaming Cayemitte.
Miscommunication on the timing of two practice sessions quickly ended Cayemitte’s time with the national team. It’s hard not for him to look back on those mistakes and think what could have been.
“It was my own doing, but looking at the players who were there at the time, I know I could have been the right-back or the supporting right-back for that ’86 team… Is it a regret? Yes. But do I blame anybody? No. It was my responsibility. That said, it was a wonderful moment.”
Romain Gall, defender: Nov. 20, 2018 vs. Italy
While the dream of a USMNT return is long gone for the aforementioned players, hope remains alive for Romain Gall. To date, the right winger’s only national team game came in a 1-0 friendly loss to Italy during the Dave Sarachan era, which was a transitional period after the U.S. failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
“Getting my first cap against Italy, just being on the field, you have unlimited energy because you’re in such a positive space. The whole camp is something that I’ll definitely remember for the rest of my life. It was an honoring moment,” said Gall.
