Geoff Cameron

Early career

Cameron was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts and played youth soccer for Bayside United. He attended Attleboro High School and Providence Country Day School before choosing West Virginia University for college. After making 28 starts in two seasons at West Virginia Mountaineers, Cameron transferred to the University of Rhode Island for his junior and senior years. Cameron was an immediate starter and helped the Rhode Island Rams beat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the 2006 NCAA tournament, scoring in a shootout. As a senior in 2007, Cameron was named midfielder of the Year in the Atlantic 10 Conference and was a first-team all-Mid Atlantic Region selection. During his college years, Cameron also played for Rhode Island Stingrays in the USL Premier Development League where he played 33 times in two seasons scoring eight goals.

Houston Dynamo

Cameron was drafted by the Houston Dynamo in the third round (42nd overall) in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. He made his professional debut on March 29, 2008, coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 defeat against the New England Revolution. In his first home appearance, on April 6, he scored a last-minute goal to help the Dynamo to a 3–3 draw with FC Dallas. He became a regular substitute and sometimes starter for the Dynamo by mid-season.

On October 31, 2008, it was announced that Cameron was a finalist for MLS Rookie of the Year along with Sean Franklin and Kheli Dube. Cameron played a key role for Houston in the…

Cameron received his first call up to train with the senior United States national team in January 2009, but he was injured during the first week and was unable to play in the team's friendly against Sweden. He participated again in training with the team in Carson, California in January 2010, leading up to a friendly match against Honduras. Cameron did not play in that match, but he was again called into camp for the February 24, 2010, game against El Salvador in Tampa, Florida. He appeared as a substitute in the 86th minute for Robbie Rogers, recording his first cap for the national side, nearly scoring on a blazing strike that narrowly went over the bar. In December 2011, Cameron was called up to coach Jürgen Klinsmann's camp. On January 21, 2012, he went 90 minutes in a friendly against Venezuela. Cameron scored his goal for the national team on May 29 in a 4–2 defeat against Belgium. Cameron was a part of the national team during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He was the first player from Massachusetts to play at the tournament since Mike Burns in 1998. He started as central defender during the team's first two group stage games against Ghana and Portugal. He was benched and replaced by Omar Gonzalez for the third game against Germany. In the Round of 16 defeat against Belgium, Cameron started in central midfield in place of Kyle Beckerman. NBC Sports interpreted that Klinsmann made the change as Cameron was better suited to take on Marouane Fellaini, a tall Belgian…

A versatile player who had been chiefly featured at centre-back but could also play as a right-back or defensive midfielder, Cameron was known for his aerial ability, strength, athleticism and composure on the ball.

Geoff has the mentality and all the skill-sets to succeed . . . Stoke and England are getting a quality player that they can be excited to see. He's good with the ball, he reads the game well and he's not going to lose possession of the ball while under pressure. If you're playing with Geoff Cameron, be prepared to play with the ball. He has the physical attributes to bang when he needs to but he also has a real confidence in the way he handles the ball and the way he passes out of the back.

Cameron's father Scott was a professional hockey player, after having played for Mount Saint Charles Academy, a school that dominated the sport in Rhode Island. During his time at Houston Dynamo, Cameron took part in a series of community service efforts to raise money for local charitable organizations in 2011 and 2012. The 20 for 20 campaign was started in September 2011 when Cameron, who wore the No. 20 jersey in Houston, announced a goal to raise a total of $20,000 for the Fisher House and Ronald McDonald House of Houston. In March 2012, Cameron and the Dynamo announced the return of the 20 for 20 campaign with the same initial goal of $20,000, with proceeds going to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Growing up Cameron supported English side Manchester United and Italian side Juventus. While living in England Cameron participated in local community work. Cameron endorsed Donald Trump in the 2016 United States presidential election and claimed he had political arguments with USMNT teammates, who he said were mostly liberal. He was one of the few sportspeople who expressed support for Trump's Executive Order 13769, which put a 90-day immigration freeze on several nations and suspended activity on the United States Refugee Admissions Program.