Mauricio Pochettino has named Tim Ream as the United States' captain for the World Cup and expects him to play a big part both on and off the pitch.

No player has worn the armband more often during Pochettino's tenure than Ream (16/23 games), who has the opportunity to make history at the World Cup.

The 38-year-old could become the oldest player to feature at the tournament for the USA, breaking the record set by Fernando Clavijo in 1994.

The USA begin their World Cup campaign on June 12 against Paraguay, but they first face Senegal and Germany in pre-tournament friendlies.

Pochettino's side take on Senegal at Ream's home ground in Charlotte, with the Argentine confident the defender's experience will prove key to their chances.

"I am so grateful that he's with us, because he was a great captain, not only on the field, if not maybe more important, off the field," Pochettino said.

"He has the experience, he has the capacity to be the leader that we want, the positive leader, acting and reflecting on the field and off the field.

"It's important for us to translate to you and translate to everyone that, playing or not playing, he is the captain.

"It's not [that] now he's the captain, he's going to be sure on the starting 11, eh? It doesn't mean that. But importantly always [he] is going to be, with armband or without armband. He's the captain, and he's a great, great guy."

Senegal will be playing in the 'Group of Death' at the World Cup, having been drawn alongside France, Norway and Iraq.

The Lions of Teranga also head into the tournament on the back of a dramatic Africa Cup of Nations final, which they won before having the title stripped away two months later.

And Pochettino is excited about the challenge they will pose.

"Senegal is one of the best teams. In the final of the game in Morocco, I don't know if to say it was a champion, or a different champion or no champion, but the quality is amazing," Pochettino added.

"It's going to be nice, because we are going to meet [Idrissa] Gana Gueye, Nico Jackson, Sadio Mane, different players that we know very well, we coached in different clubs.

"It's a fantastic team. It's, for me, one of the contenders from Africa. They are going to be one of the contenders of the FIFA World Cup, I have no doubt, because of the capacity and the quality of the players."