Ernie Stewart is a former professional soccer player and was a regular midfielder for the U.S. men’s national team (USMNT). He grew up in the Netherlands, and began his professional career there in 1988. By the end of 1990, he made his first appearance for the U.S. national team against Portugal.

In his first season at Willem II, he finished third on the goal-scoring list for the Dutch First Division, with 17. He went on to score 49 goals in six seasons there. In the meantime, he developed into a regular for the U.S. national team, starting all four games that the U.S. played in the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Most notably, he scored the goal that gave the U.S. its winning margin against Colombia in group play, the first World Cup game won by the U.S. since 1950. By 1996, Stewart had moved to NAC Breda. The club was relegated in 1999, but Stewart helped the club win the First Division in 2000. During his years at NAC, he also played in all of the U.S. team's matches at the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups, becoming one of only five U.S. men to play in three World Cups.

Stewart retired from professional soccer in 2005. In 2018, Stewart was named general manager of the men's U.S. national team. As of 2020, he is the current the sporting director of the United States Soccer Federation.