Steven Mitchell Birnbaum[2] (born January 23, 1991) is an American former professional soccer player who is currently the sporting director for DC Power FC in the USL Super League.

[16] He was loaned out to their USL Pro affiliate Richmond Kickers in March 2014, making his professional debut on April 5, 2014, in a 3–1 win over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

[3] Following an injury to Jeff Parke, in 2014 Birnbaum became United's starting center back alongside Bobby Boswell.

[18] Birnbaum scored his first goal for United on February 26, 2015, in a CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal leg against Alajuelense.

In 2016, Birnbaum was the subject of several rumors regarding a possible transfer to Europe or Israel, with Maccabi Tel Aviv offering $1.5 million and mentioned as one possible destination.

[4] His teamwork with fellow defender, Frédéric Brillant, and goalkeeper, Bill Hamid, helped DC to concede the lowest number of goals in the Eastern Conference in 2019.

[12] Birnbaum was forced to miss the start of the 2024 season after undergoing knee surgery in the offseason,[21] but stated he would continue to "play until the wheels fall off."

Birnbaum recounted that there were days where he couldn't keep up with his children, and he struggled to get out of bed after games due to the pain in his knees and hips.

[24] His first goal for the USMNT was a 90th-minute winner versus Iceland on January 31, 2016, a game in which he had already provided an equalizing assist to Michael Orozco to make it 2-2.

[27] In January 2025, Birnbaum was named the first-ever sporting director for USL Super League club DC Power FC.