Brian Ching

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American soccer player

title: "Brian Ching" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1978-births", "living-people", "american-people-of-native-hawaiian-descent", "people-from-hawaii-of-chinese-descent", "people-from-oahu", "sportspeople-from-honolulu-county,-hawaii", "american-people-of-chinese-descent", "sportspeople-of-chinese-descent", "native-hawaiian-sportspeople", "soccer-players-from-hawaii", "american-men's-soccer-players", "men's-association-football-forwards", "kamehameha-schools-alumni", "american-youth-soccer-organization-players", "gonzaga-bulldogs-men's-soccer-players", "spokane-shadow-players", "la-galaxy-draft-picks", "la-galaxy-players", "seattle-sounders-(1994–2008)-players", "san-jose-earthquakes-players", "houston-dynamo-fc-players", "a-league-(1995–2004)-players", "usl-league-two-players", "major-league-soccer-players", "major-league-soccer-all-stars", "united-states-men's-international-soccer-players", "2006-fifa-world-cup-players", "2007-concacaf-gold-cup-players", "2009-concacaf-gold-cup-players", "concacaf-gold-cup–winning-players", "houston-dynamo-fc-non-playing-staff"] description: "American soccer player" topic_path: "science/astronomy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Ching" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American soccer player ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox football biography"]

Field	Value
name	Brian Ching
image	Brian Ching Testimonial Match Speaking After The Game (cropped).JPG
caption	Brian Ching speaks to the crowd at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston in December 2013 after his testimonial match
fullname	Brian Ching
birth_date
birth_place	Hale'iwa, Hawaii, United States
height
position	Forward
youthyears1	1995–1996
youthclubs1	Kamehameha Schools-Kapālama
youthyears2	1996
youthclubs2	Honolulu Bulls
collegeyears1	1996–2000
college1	Gonzaga Bulldogs
years1	1998–1999
clubs1	Spokane Shadow
caps1	32
goals1	21
years2	2001
clubs2	LA Galaxy
caps2	8
goals2	1
years3	2001
clubs3	→ Seattle Sounders (loan)
caps3	6
goals3	3
years4	2002
clubs4	Seattle Sounders
caps4	25
goals4	16
years5	2003–2005
clubs5	San Jose Earthquakes
caps5	56
goals5	25
years6	2006–2013
clubs6	Houston Dynamo
caps6	169
goals6	56
totalcaps	296
totalgoals	122
nationalyears1	2003–2010
nationalteam1	United States
nationalcaps1	45
nationalgoals1	11
manageryears1	2013
managerclubs1	Houston Dynamo (assistant)
manageryears2	2013–2019
managerclubs2	Houston Dash (managing director)
medaltemplates
::

Brian Ching (born May 24, 1978) is an American former professional soccer player who played for twelve years in Major League Soccer and represented the U.S. national team for eight years.

Ching's professional career began when he was the 16th pick overall by the Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2001 MLS SuperDraft, making him the first Gonzaga player and the first player from his native Hawaii selected in the MLS draft. After winning the U.S. Open Cup with Los Angeles, Ching was released from the team and played with the second division Seattle Sounders. He returned to first division soccer when the San Jose Earthquakes acquired him in the 2003 MLS supplemental draft. He won an MLS Cup and Supporters' Shield with the Earthquakes, collected the MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award, the MLS Golden Boot, and was named to the MLS Best XI.

In 2006, Ching relocated to Houston when the Earthquakes became the Houston Dynamo. He led the team to back-to-back MLS Cup Championships in 2006 and 2007 and four MLS finals overall. A six-time MLS All-Star, Ching retired from professional soccer in 2013 as Houston Dynamo's all-time leading scorer.

Ching made his international debut May 26, 2003, becoming the first Hawaiian-born player to represent the United States. He became the first Hawaiian to be named to the U.S. roster for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, although he did not see any playing time. His only international silverware is the 2007 Gold Cup. Off the field, Ching is a pillar in the Houston community where he is partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for underprivileged families in the Houston area through fundraising efforts under his program "The House that Ching Built".

Early life

Ching lost his father, Francis, to cancer on December 25, 1992, when he was 14 years old. Stephanie Whalen, Ching's mother, raised him and his two brothers as a single parent. Ching did not play soccer until he was seven years old, agreeing to only if his mother would coach.

Ching attended Kamehameha Schools Kapālama High School in Honolulu and played in the soccer team in his junior and senior year. He was named as the Interscholastic League of Honolulu's MVP during his senior year with 14 goals and six assists. His junior year he was a second team All-ILH selection.

During his last year of high school Ching played with the Honolulu Bulls Soccer Club, a club team, and traveled to tournaments on the mainland where he was noticed by the Gonzaga coaching staff. He went on to play for the Gonzaga Bulldogs men's soccer program under head coach Einar Thorarinsson, whom Ching credits "for believing in him and providing him the skills to grow and mature to be able to compete at the next level."

During his collegiate career, Ching played for the Spokane Shadow of the Premier Development Soccer League (where Gonzaga coach Einar Thorarinsson was also the coach of the Shadow) and set a total of 21 goals during his stint in the 1998 and 1999 seasons.{{Citation | url = http://www.spokaneshadow.com/stats.htm | title = Shadow All-Time Stats Leaders | access-date = December 15, 2013 | publisher = Spokane Shadow Soccer Club | year = 2005 | author = Spokane Shadow | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061214200958/http://www.spokaneshadow.com/stats.htm | archive-date = 2006-12-14 | year =2013 | title =2013 USL Media Guide | publisher =United Soccer Leagues | page =152 | url =http://www.uslsoccer.com/docs/2013%20USL%20Media%20Guide_Web.pdf | access-date =December 15, 2013 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131207053310/http://www.uslsoccer.com/docs/2013%20USL%20Media%20Guide_Web.pdf | archive-date =December 7, 2013

Collegiate career

Ching joined the Bulldogs for the 1996 season, and as a freshman played in 18 matches with five starts. He finished second on the team in scoring with 12 points on three goals and six assists. As a sophomore, he appeared in 16 matches with 14 starts and was second on the team behind West Coast Conference Player of the Year and teammate Jeff McAllister with 10 goals and 23 points, ranking fifth in the WCC in both categories. The 10 goals were second on the all-time Gonzaga single-season list and his 23 points were third on the all-time GU list. He earned All-WCC second-team honors.

His junior season was cut short by a knee injury suffered in the season opener, then re-injured in the next match, and received a medical redshirt year. Ching missed the entire 1998 season after surgery to repair injured meniscus in right knee.

The injury bug continued to plague Ching in the summer of 1999 when he was kicked in the cheek and eye while playing for the Spokane Shadow of the USL, the injury requiring surgery. Despite that injury, Ching was ready for the Bulldogs season opener and went on to start 17 of 18 matches. He scored 13 goals and had 8 assists for 34 points. The 13 goals were third on the all-time GU single-season list, the 34 points second. He scored his first goal of the season in a 2–2 tie against 11th-ranked Washington Huskies, got the insurance goal in a 3–1 victory over 7th-ranked Stanford and had a pair of goals against 4th-ranked University of San Diego in 4–2 home victory. He earned All-WCC first-team honors.

His final season of 2000, Ching missed three matches with an injury but still scored eight goals and recorded 22 points. He was named All-WCC first team and earned All-Far West Region first-team honors. Ching finished his Gonzaga career with 34 goals, which still ties him third on the all-time GU list, and his 23 assists are a Gonzaga career record. Ching's 91 career points are still tied for second on the Gonzaga charts. With Ching, the Bulldogs were back-to-back co-champions of the West Coast Conference in 1997 and 1998. Ching majored in accounting.

Club career

Los Angeles Galaxy (2001) and Seattle Sounders (2001–2002)

|subject =Brian Ching

Ching began his professional career when the Los Angeles Galaxy drafted him as the 16th overall pick of the 2001 MLS SuperDraft. Los Angeles chose midfielder Brian Mullan and forward Isaias Bardales Jr. in the first round, 9th and 11th respectively, before picking Ching with their fourth pick in the second round. Ching was the first ever Hawaiian selected in the MLS draft.

Ching joined a roster that included U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame players Cobi Jones, Alexi Lalas, and Paul Caligiuri, Mexico's top World Cup scorer Luis Hernández, Mauricio Cienfuegos, Ezra Hendrickson, Danny Califf, Kevin Hartman and was coached by Sigi Schmid. Ching wore the number 9 jersey with Los Angeles. Ching made his MLS debut against San Jose on April 7, 2001, as a member of the starting lineup.{{Citation | url = http://www.lagalaxy.com/r20020213.html | title = L.A. Galaxy Waive Brian Ching | access-date = December 14, 2013 | publisher = Los Angeles Galaxy | year = 2002 | author = Los Angeles Galaxy Communications | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20020817141705/http://www.lagalaxy.com/r20020213.html | archive-date=August 17, 2002

Ching started and played the full match in his U.S. Open Cup debut, a 5–0 victory over the Nashville Metros at Titan Stadium on June 27, 2001, in the second round.{{Citation | url = http://mlsnet.com/special/opencup01/rd2_0627la.html | title = Galaxy Crush Nashville in Second Round | access-date = December 14, 2013 | publisher = Major League Soccer | year = 2001 | author = MLSNet.com | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010713085309/http://mlsnet.com/special/opencup01/rd2_0627la.html | archive-date = July 13, 2001 | url-status = dead | url = http://www.mlsnet.com/special/opencup01/rd3_0711la.html | title = Galaxy Advance to Open Cup Quarterfinals | access-date = December 14, 2013 | publisher = Major League Soccer | year = 2001 | author = MLSNet.com | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20010714174149/http://www.mlsnet.com/special/opencup01/rd3_0711la.html | archive-date = July 14, 2001 | url-status = dead | url = http://www.mlsnet.com/content/01/mls1026opencup.html | title = Galaxy Win First Open Cup Title | access-date = December 14, 2013 | publisher = Major League Soccer | year = 2001 | author = MLSNet.com | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20011119055227/http://www.mlsnet.com/content/01/mls1026opencup.html | archive-date = November 19, 2001 | url-status = dead

Ching made his MLS Cup Playoffs debut in a 4–1 loss in Game 2 of the quarterfinals against the New York-New Jersey MetroStars on September 27, 2001, after coming on as an 88th minute substitution for Cobi Jones. Ching appeared for a second time in the playoffs in the Galaxy's 1–0 overtime win in Game 2 of the MLS semifinal series against the Chicago Fire on October 14, 2001, entering the game in the 91st minute for Sasha Victorine. The Galaxy advanced to the 2001 MLS Cup final and tied 1–1 with the San Jose Earthquakes in regulation before Dwayne De Rosario's golden goal in the 96th minute ended the match.

After signing Carlos Ruiz, the Galaxy waived Ching on February 13, 2002, to comply with the MLS roster limits. One month later, he signed with the Seattle Sounders of the A-League where scored four goals and provided one assist in seven games the previous year when he was on loan from Los Angeles.{{Citation | url = http://www.seattlesounders.net/PressReleases.asp?PressReleaseID=46 | title = Sounders Nab Brian Ching from MLS | access-date = December 14, 2013 | publisher = Seattle Sounders Professional Soccer Club | year = 2002 | author = Bart Wiley | url-status = usurped | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20020613185505/http://www.seattlesounders.net/PressReleases.asp?PressReleaseID=46 | archive-date=June 13, 2002 | url = http://www.seattlesounders.net/PressReleases.asp?PressReleaseID=177 | title = Four Sounders Receive All-League Honors | access-date = December 14, 2013 | publisher = Seattle Sounders Professional Soccer Club | year = 2002 | author = Bart Wiley | url-status = usurped | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20021206235027/http://www.seattlesounders.net/PressReleases.asp?PressReleaseID=177 | archive-date=December 6, 2002

San Jose Earthquakes (2003–2005)

The first time the Earthquakes coaching staff got a good look at Brian Ching was facing him in the July 17, 2002, third round match of the U.S. Open Cup when San Jose defeated the Seattle Sounders 4–3 after sudden death extra time.{{cite AV media | people =Dominic Kinnear (speaker) | title =Brian Ching Testimonial Announcement | medium =YouTube | url =https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYKz8qbjSo8&t=13m50s | access-date =December 18, 2013 | date =September 24, 2013 | time =13:50 | location =BBVA Compass Stadium, Houston, Texas | publisher =Houston Dynamo | quote =2002 Open Cup game, Seattle Sounders vs. San Jose Earthquakes. It was the first time we really got a good look at Brian Ching and we felt that Eddie Robinson, at the time, was the most physical and dominating center back in MLS. I thought Brian gave him a good little run around, and a good little throw down every once in a while. It was one of the best physical match-ups I've seen in a soccer match. After the game, the one thing we spoke about is how can we get this guy to come and play for us. We made a trade to get Brian in the 2003 supplemental draft. Little did I know, in 2003, how much success that draft would bring us and I think it goes down, possibly, as one of the best trades ever made in Major League Soccer. | url = http://www.sjearthquakes.com/press_box/022803release.htm | title =San Jose Acquire Brian Ching in MLS SuperDraft | access-date = December 18, 2013 | publisher = San Jose Earthquakes | year = 2003 | author = San Jose Earthquakes Media Relations | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030605105411/http://www.sjearthquakes.com/press_box/022803release.htm | archive-date=June 5, 2003 | url = http://www.sjearthquakes.com/press_box/021103release1.htm | title =San Jose Acquire Brian Ching in MLS SuperDraft | access-date = December 18, 2013 | publisher = San Jose Earthquakes | year = 2003 | author = San Jose Earthquakes Media Relations | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030605102844/http://www.sjearthquakes.com/press_box/021103release1.htm | archive-date=June 5, 2003

Ching made his official Earthquakes debut in Guatemala City on March 16, 2003, playing a full match in a 4–2 Champions' Cup loss to C.S.D. Municipal. He played his first Earthquakes home game in the second leg against Municipal where he scored the first goal in the 35th minute. Ching made his first Earthquakes start in the MLS regular season on April 12, 2003, at Colorado Rapids and scored 53 seconds into the game. He would miss five games due to a right hamstring strain before returning to the starting lineup to score two goals for his first multi-goal game in MLS on July 2, 2003, at the MetroStars. He played 90 minutes in his first encounter against his old club Seattle Sounders on August 5 but the 1–0 loss eliminated San Jose from the 2003 Open Cup.

Ching left the August 16, 2003, game at New England Revolution with a ruptured right Achilles tendon. He underwent surgery on August 19 and missed the rest of the 2003 season as the San Jose Earthquakes went on to win the 2003 MLS Cup. Ching scored a then-career-high six goals and two assists during 2003. He was named to the MLS Team of the Week for April 12 and May 3, 2003.

Ching returned from injury in the 2004 Champions' Cup as a sub in both legs against eventual champion L.D. Alajuelense. Ching made his first start of the season on May 1 vs. D.C. United. Ching finished with a career-high 12 goals in MLS, sharing the MLS Golden Boot with Eddie Johnson. He was named to the MLS Best XI and recognized as the MLS Comeback Player of the Year. He also finished as the Earthquakes scoring champion and Most Valuable Player for the 2004 season.

In 2005, Ching scored seven goals in 16 games and tallied a career-high five assists in MLS play. He registered a goal or an assist in five straight games before missing 15 matches with a hamstring injury. He ended the regular season having recorded a goal or assist in six straight games. The San Jose Earthquakes finished the 2005 season with the best regular season record, clinching the Supporters' Shield.{{Citation | url = http://www.sjearthquakes.com/club/history | title = San Jose Earthquakes History | publisher = San Jose Earthquakes | access-date = December 18, 2013

Houston Dynamo (2006–2013)

Along with the rest of his Earthquakes teammates, Ching moved to Houston for the 2006 season. He scored four goals in Houston's first-ever game on April 2, 2006, against the Colorado Rapids, becoming the seventh player in MLS history to score four goals in a single game. Ching found out he had been selected to U.S. world cup team on May 2 and celebrated with a game-deciding goal the following MLS fixture, May 6, against rival club FC Dallas. Ching missed six MLS games while he was with the U.S. national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. His bicycle kick on September 30 vs. D.C. United, which would later be awarded the MLS Goal of the Year Award, was the deciding goal in a 1–0 win that secured Houston's first ever MLS playoff spot.

In the 2006 MLS Cup Playoffs, Ching scored the series-winning goal with a header in stoppage time of the 2–0 win vs. Chivas USA in the second leg of the Western Conference semifinals. He was named MVP of the MLS Cup 2006 after scoring the tying goal in the 114th minute, less than one minute after New England Revolution had taken a 1–0 lead, and scoring the winning penalty kick in the penalty kick shootout.

In 2007, Ching ended the season tied for the team lead with seven goals despite missing 10 games entirely due to injuries and national-team call-ups. He contributed in the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs with two playoff goals but sat out the 2007 MLS Cup final after straining his calf in the Western Conference final. He led Houston's comeback from a 2–0 aggregate deficit in the second leg of the Western Conference semifinal vs. FC Dallas on November 2, setting up Stuart Holden's goal in the 67th minute and then scoring himself from a Dwayne De Rosario through ball in the 72nd minute to tie the series. In extra time, of that game, he scored from close range in the 97th minute to give Houston the lead for good.

Ching was a staple in the Dynamo lineup during international competition. In the 2007 CONCACAF Champions' Cup he set up the series-winning goal against Puntarenas F.C. when his header hit the post and Kelly Gray scored on the rebound. Ching scored the opening goal in the semifinal first leg vs. C.F. Pachuca on March 15, heading in a Craig Waibel cross. In the semifinal second leg at Estadio Hidalgo on April 5, he set up the first Houston goal by keeping the ball in on the sideline, leading to Brian Mullan's goal and later scored in the 79th minute to give Houston a 4–3 aggregate lead before Pachuca rallied to win in extra time. Ching also participated in the 2007 Superliga, playing in all three group stage matches. He set up goal just 11 seconds into match vs. Monarcas Morelia on July 29, passing to Joseph Ngwenya for the fastest goal in Dynamo history. Ching scored the only goal in 1–0 win vs. D.C. United on August 1 and hit the post with the fourth penalty kick in the Dynamo's semifinal shootout loss vs. Pachuca on August 14.

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Houston-dallas.jpg" caption="inaugural CONCACAF Champions League]], Ching appeared as a substitute at [[San Francisco F.C.]] and started vs. [[C.D. Luis Ángel Firpo]], scoring the game's only goal to help Dynamo reach the quarterfinals."] ::

Ching's performance during the 2009 season earned him Dynamo's Golden Boot for the third straight year with eight goals and three assists. He became seventh Dynamo player to make 100th starts for the club in all competitions and assisted on Cam Weaver's game-tying goal in the 80th minute of a 2–1 loss at Columbus Crew on September 13. In the 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League Ching played all 90 minutes of both legs of the quarterfinal series vs. C.F. Atlante. He appeared in five games of the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League, making three starts. In the 2009 MLS Cup Playoffs, he netted the game-winning goal in 95th minute of a 1–0 overtime win vs. Seattle, swiveling to volley a shot into the left side netting for his 50th Dynamo goal in all competitions.

Ching ran into disciplinary trouble during the 2009 campaign. In July 2009, Ching was fined $500 by MLS for his comments regarding the officiating of the Dynamo's 2–1 loss to Seattle Sounders FC (a game Ching did not play in due to participation in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup). On his Twitter page, Ching referred to the referee as "a joke" and "a cheat" for calling a Fredy Montero shot cleared off the line a goal. Ching scored the opening goal from a Brad Davis free kick in 3–2 win vs. Real Salt Lake on August 19 but was ejected in the 82nd minute for hard foul, the first red card in the 162 games of his MLS career. He was ejected again in next MLS game, a 0–0 tie vs. Los Angeles Galaxy on October 18, for raising his hand to the face of an opponent.

In 2010, Ching shrugged off injuries and national team disappointment to score seven goals and add three assists in 20 games, making 16 starts, to win the team's Golden Boot for the fourth straight year. His August 21 bicycle kick against Chicago was named ESPNSoccernet.com's MLS Goal of the Year and Dynamo Goal of the Year. He took over as the Dynamo team captain after the retirement of Wade Barrett. He was named as Don Garber's Commissioner's Pick for the 2010 MLS All-Star Game in Houston, a game where he came on as second-half substitute and scored with a header to cut the deficit to 2-1 vs. Manchester United F.C. The Dynamo missed the playoffs in 2010.

Ching was limited to 1,242 minutes in 20 appearances due to injury in 2011, the lowest minute total of his Houston career, but still tied for team lead with five goals. He started all four matches the Dynamo took part in the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs, scoring a goal and adding an assist, to help lead the Dynamo back to the MLS Cup final. He started and set up the game-winning goal with left-footed through ball in 2–1 first-leg win at Philadelphia Union and scored the game-winning goal with header from a Brad Davis free kick in a 1–0 win the second-leg, scoring the final MLS goal at Robertson Stadium. Ching started the Eastern Conference championship match at Sporting Kansas City and closed the night by hoisting the trophy as team captain after the 2–0 win. He made his second career start in an MLS Cup final at Los Angeles, who denied the Dynamo the title with a narrow 1–0 victory.

Montreal Impact, return to Houston and retirement (2011–2013)

Ching was left exposed by Houston in the 2011 MLS expansion draft and was selected by expansion side Montreal Impact less than a week after playing in the MLS Cup final. Ching was traded back to Houston on February 16, 2012, for a first-round draft pick in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, after training with Montreal for about a month, coincidentally playing a preseason game against the Houston Dynamo.

Ching started opening day on for the Dynamo for the sixth time in seven years and nearly scored at Chivas USA when his first-touch volley off a long cross from Brad Davis hit inside of post and caromed away for near goal. Ching made his 200th MLS appearance (136th with Dynamo) in 3–1 loss to Vancouver Whitecaps FC on June 10. Ching made his 150th Dynamo start in all competitions against D.C. United on April 28, the 4th Dynamo to reach this milestone. Ching drew and converted a penalty in the 83rd minute on June 30 vs. Philadelphia, his second goal of the year and first at BBVA Compass Stadium. The goal against Philadelphia was his 20th career game-winning goal. He would go on to set a career-high with 30 games in 2012 regular season, tying his career-high of five assists.

Ching signed a deal in early 2013 to return to the Dynamo as a player-coach and later announced his retirement effective at the end of the 2013 season. Ching officially announced his intention to retire at the end of the 2013 Major League Soccer season on September 24, 2013, although he played his final professional minutes in a 4–1 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Sunday, September 8, 2013. He made two more appearances on the match day squad, his last being in a CONCACAF Champions League game on September 25, 2013, but was an unused substitution.

Ching did not feature in the Dynamo's 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs run as he was not called up to the matchday squad for any of the playoff games. The Dynamo were eliminated by Sporting Kansas City in the Eastern Conference championship game on November 23, 2013,{{Citation | url = http://www.houstondynamo.com/news/2013/11/match-recap-houston-dynamo-1-sporting-kansas-city-2 | title = Match Recap: Houston Dynamo 1, Sporting Kansas City 2 | work = Steve Brisendine | publisher = Houston Dynamo | access-date = December 19, 2013 | archive-date = January 22, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230122231034/https://www.houstondynamo.com/news/2013/11/match-recap-houston-dynamo-1-sporting-kansas-city-2 | url-status = dead

International career

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/BrianChing_20060410.jpg" caption="U.S. national team]] in 2006"] ::

Although having a Chinese background, and being contacted by the Chinese Football Association to play for the Chinese team, Ching still earned his first cap with the U.S. national team on May 26, 2003, as a substitute in a friendly match against Wales at Spartan Stadium (home stadium of Ching's club at the time, San Jose Earthquakes). He is the first Hawaiian and the second Chinese-American (after Mark Chung) to play for the United States. Ching scored his first international goal, an equalizer in the 88th minute, in a World Cup qualifier 1–1 tie against Jamaica in Kingston on August 18, 2004.

On May 2, 2006, Ching was named to the U.S. men's squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany but did not make an appearance in the tournament.

He scored a goal in a 2–0 US CONCACAF Gold Cup victory over Trinidad and Tobago on June 9, 2007. He drew a penalty in the box of the second half of the Gold Cup Final against Mexico. Landon Donovan converted the penalty, tying the game at one. The USA won 2–1 after Benny Feilhaber's game winner.

Ching was called in to the USA side to face Barbados in the first round of CONCACAF World cup Qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. He then scored two goals in the US team's largest victory ever, 8–0.

On May 11, 2010, Ching was named to the preliminary U.S. men's squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa but did not make the final 23-man roster.

Career statistics

Club

| | | |- |02. |October 9, 2004 |Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, USA | | | | |- |03. |February 19, 2006 |Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, USA | | | | |- |04. |May 26, 2006 |Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, USA | | | | |- |05. |June 9, 2007 |Home Depot Center, Carson, USA | | | | |- |06. |June 15, 2008 |Home Depot Center, Carson, USA | | | | |- |07. |June 15, 2008 |Home Depot Center, Carson, USA | | | | |- |08. |September 10, 2008 |Toyota Park, Bridgeview, USA | | | | |- |09. |June 21, 2008 |RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C., USA | | | | |- |10. |July 8, 2009 |RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C., USA | | | | |- |11. |February 24, 2010 |Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida, USA | | | | |}

Management career

The Houston Dynamo re-signed Ching in March 2013 to serve as a player/coach in this his last year playing.{{Citation | url = http://www.sportingnews.com/soccer/story/2013-03-01/houston-dynamo-legend-brian-ching-signs-on-as-playercoach | title = Houston Dynamo legend Brian Ching signs on as player/coach | work = Sporting News |publisher = Sporting News | date = March 1, 2013 | access-date = December 28, 2013 | url = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130301/brian-ching-houston-dynamo.ap/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234219/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130301/brian-ching-houston-dynamo.ap/ | url-status = dead | archive-date = December 30, 2013 | title = Brian Ching to be player-coach for Houston Dynamo | via = Associated Press |magazine=Sports Illustrated | date = March 1, 2013 | access-date = December 28, 2013

On December 23, 2013, the Houston Dash named Ching as the inaugural managing director the NWSL franchise.{{Citation | url = http://www.houstondynamo.com/news/2013/12/brian-ching-named-houston-dash-managing-director | title = Brian Ching named Houston Dash managing director | work = Houston Dash Communications | publisher = Houston Dash | access-date = December 26, 2013 | archive-date = July 9, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150709003540/http://www.houstondynamo.com/news/2013/12/brian-ching-named-houston-dash-managing-director | url-status = dead | url = http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/23/brian-ching-takes-new-role-in-houston-dynamo-family/ | title = Brian Ching takes new role in Houston Dynamo family | work = Steve Davis |publisher = NBC Sports | date = December 23, 2013 | access-date = December 28, 2013

Managerial statistics

|- |align=left|Houston Dash (managing director) |align=left|December 2013 |align=left|January 2019 |- !align="center" colspan="3"|Total |}

Testimonial match

On September 24, 2013, the Houston Dynamo and Dynamo Charities announced a Brian Ching Testimonial Match to celebrate the career of the retiring forward, with proceeds from the match to benefit Ching's charitable initiative, The House That Ching Built.{{Citation | url = http://www.houstondynamo.com/news/2013/09/houston-dynamo-celebrate-brian-ching%E2%80%99s-career-testimonial-match-bbva-compass-stadium | title = Houston Dynamo to celebrate Brian Ching's career with Testimonial Match at BBVA Compass Stadium | work = Houston Dynamo Communications | publisher = Houston Dynamo | access-date = December 18, 2013 | date = September 24, 2013 | url = http://www.houstondynamo.com/news/2013/12/match-recap-brian-ching-testimonial-match | title = Match Recap: Brian Ching Testimonial Match | work = Ben Crook | publisher = Houston Dynamo | access-date = December 18, 2013 | date = December 13, 2013

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USA Ricardo Clark
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USA Charlie Davies
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Honors

LA Galaxy

Seattle Sounders

A-League Commissioner's Cup: 2002

San Jose Earthquakes

MLS Cup: 2003
MLS Supporters Shield: 2005
MLS Western Conference Championship: 2003

Houston Dynamo

MLS Cup: 2006, 2007
MLS Western Conference Championship: 2006, 2007
MLS Eastern Conference Championship: 2011, 2012

United States

CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2007; runner-up: 2009

Individual

MLS All-Star (6): 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
MLS Best XI (1): 2004
MLS Comeback Player of the Year (1): 2004
MLS Golden Boot (1): 2004
MLS Goal of the Year (1): 2006
A-League All-League First Team (1): 2002
USL PDL Rookie of the Year (1): 1998
MLS Cup MVP (1): 2006
San Jose Earthquakes MVP (1): 2004
Houston Dynamo MVP (1): 2008
Houston Dynamo Golden Boot (3): 2008, 2009, 2010
Houston Dynamo Humanitarian of the Year (2): 2010, 2013
West Coast Conference Hall Of Honor: 2011

Off the field

Social Causes

Ching's Champions

Each fall since 2012, Ching and Kroger honored members of the Houston community who were chosen as "Ching's Champions."{{Citation | url = http://www.brianching.com/champs/ | title = Ching's Champions | work = BrianChing.com. | access-date = December 19, 2013

Eight champions were selected in 2012 from the group of nominees and each winner received a Ching's Champions medal and a four-minute shopping spree at Kroger. The 2012 winners collected over $7,700 worth of groceries. In 2013, the five "champions" were able to secure over $9,000 of groceries and merchandise during the 250-second shopping spree.{{Citation | url = http://www.houstondynamo.com/charities/chingschampions | title = Ching's Champions | work = Dynamo Charities |publisher = Houston Dynamo | access-date = December 19, 2013

The House that Ching Built

In 2009, Ching made a commitment to give back to his adopted community by raising money to build an affordable home through Houston Habitat for Humanity.{{Citation |url = http://www.houstonhabitat.org/chinghouse |title = The House That Ching Built |work = Houston Habitat for Humanity |access-date = December 19, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131220044228/http://www.houstonhabitat.org/chinghouse |archive-date = 2013-12-20 |url-status = dead

The funds raised exceeded Ching's initial goal and allowed Houston Habitat to upgrade the home with green features, including solar panels and a solar hot water heater through a grant from Green Mountain Energy. The Milby Park build was completed in 2010 and welcomed the Urbano family with a home dedication in May 2011.

Along with the announcement of the testimonial match to be played in honor of his retirement at the end of the 2013 season, Ching committed to fundraise $85,000 to build a "green" house for another local Houston family in need.{{Citation | url = http://www.houstondynamo.com/charities/housethatchingbuilt | title = The House That Ching Built | work = Dynamo Charities |publisher = Houston Dynamo | access-date = December 19, 2013

Endorsements

On March 8, 2012, BBVA Compass announced Ching as their social-media ambassador to promote causes important to Ching, his team and the bank.{{Citation | url = http://newsroom.bbvacompass.com/index.php?s=17606&item=128302 | title = BBVA Compass taps Brian Ching for social media | work = BBVA Compass | access-date = December 19, 2013

PLEX is the performance center of Ching and other athletes like fellow Dynamo alumni Stuart Holden, NFL quarterback and Katy product Andy Dalton, and NFL defensive end Julius Peppers.{{Citation | url = http://www.plex.cc/Plex/testimonials.html | title = PLEX Testimonials | work = PLEX, INC. | access-date = December 19, 2013

PUMA was the official match boots provider for Ching.{{Citation |url = http://about.puma.com/puma-signs-as-a-founding-partner-and-official-sponsor-of-womens-professional-soccer/?lang=en |title = PUMA SIGNS AS A FOUNDING PARTNER AND OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL SOCCER |work = PUMA.com |publisher = PUMA AG Rudolf Dassler Sport. |access-date = December 19, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131221201323/http://about.puma.com/puma-signs-as-a-founding-partner-and-official-sponsor-of-womens-professional-soccer/?lang=en |archive-date = 2013-12-21 |url-status = dead | url = http://www.puma.com/football/news/puma-announces-the-winning-project-pink-charity | title = PUMA announces the winning Project Pink charity! | work = PUMA.com | publisher = PUMA AG Rudolf Dassler Sport. | access-date = December 19, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131221201343/http://www.puma.com/football/news/puma-announces-the-winning-project-pink-charity | archive-date = December 21, 2013 | url-status = dead

Television

Ching hosted his own sports segment on KHOU, "Kickin' It with Brian Ching", on which he offered up advice on everything soccer from becoming a professional soccer player to befriending the StairMaster."{{Citation | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7Xg2BeLzt4 | title = Kickin it with Brian Ching 5 10 2009 | work = KHOU | date = 12 September 2010 | publisher = YouTube | access-date = December 13, 2013 | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CdvOnRVqCU | title = Kickin it with Brian Ching 6 20 2009 | work = KHOU | date = 12 September 2010 | publisher = YouTube | access-date = December 13, 2013 | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okW2b79Tv-c | title =Kickin' it with Brian Ching 11 8 2009 | work = KHOU | date =12 September 2010 | publisher = YouTube | access-date = December 13, 2013

References

(March 21, 2014). "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: United States". FIFA.
"Brian Ching". [[Houston Dynamo]].
"Brian Ching Bio, News, Stats". [[ESPN FC]].
Ortiz, Jose de Jesus. (17 November 2011). "For Dynamo's Ching, life all about overcoming odds". [[Houston Chronicle]].
Ortiz, Jose de Jesus. (13 May 2012). "Lady who built Brian Ching loves House that Ching Built". [[Houston Chronicle]].
Gonzaga Athletics. (4 March 2011). "Gonzaga's Brian Ching Inducted Into WCC Hall Of Honor". [[Gonzaga Bulldogs.
"Bulls Alumni". Honolulu Bulls Soccer Club.
"About Brian". BrianChing.com.
"West Coast Conference Record Book". [[West Coast Conference]].
"MLS SuperDraft Tracker 2001". [[Major League Soccer]].
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"MetroStars use second-half outburst to take series lead".
"L.A. up 4-1 in points against Chicago after 1-0 OT win".
"Golden goal lifts Quakes over Galaxy 2-1 in MLS Cup".
"Brian Ching". [[Major League Soccer]].
"Dynamo's Ching fined for anti-ref "tweet" - MLS - ESPN Soccernet".
Phillips, Randy. (November 29, 2011). "Montreal Impact wants to build team the right way for MLS debut". [[Montreal Gazette]].
Phillips, Randy. (February 16, 2012). "Impact sends Brian Ching to Houston for pick in 2013 draft". [[Montreal Gazette]].
Ortiz, Jose de Jesus. (2013-09-23). "Brian Ching ready for retirement".
(18 August 2004). "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany ™ Preliminaries". [[FIFA]].
(19 August 2004). "Ching's 89th Minute Tally Gives U.S. 1-1 Tie with Jamaica in World Cup Qualifier". USsoccer.com.
Cowles, Chris. (18 August 2004). "U.S. breathes easier as late goal ties Jamaica". [[USA Today]].
"2003 Lineups". ussoccer.com.
"2004 MNT Statistics". ussoccer.com.
"2005 MNT Statistics". ussoccer.com.
"2006 MNT Statistics". ussoccer.com.
"2007 MNT Statistics". ussoccer.com.
"2008 MNT Statistics". ussoccer.com.
"2009 MNT Statistics". ussoccer.com.
"2010 MNT Statistics". ussoccer.com.
Ortiz, Jose de Jesus. (December 23, 2013). "Brian Ching to be managing director of expansion Dash". [[Houston Chronicle]].
"DYNAMO AWARDS".

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