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U.S. Soccer Federation

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U.S. Soccer Federation
NameU.S. Soccer Federation
Founded05 April 1913
HeadquartersChicago
PresidentCindy Parlow Cone
CeoJ.T. Batson
Websitehttps://www.ussoccer.com/

U.S. Soccer Federation. The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body for the sport of association football in the United States. Founded in 1913, it oversees all regulatory, competitive, and developmental aspects of the sport, from youth levels to the professional game. It is a member of FIFA, the world governing body, and its regional confederation, CONCACAF.

History

The organization was originally founded as the United States Football Association on April 5, 1913, in New York City, and was admitted into FIFA later that year. Early milestones included the establishment of the National Challenge Cup, now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, in 1914. The federation managed the national team's participation in early FIFA World Cup tournaments, including a historic third-place finish at the inaugural 1930 FIFA World Cup in Uruguay. Following a period of relative dormancy, the sport's profile was dramatically raised by hosting the 1994 FIFA World Cup, an event that led directly to the creation of Major League Soccer. Key figures in its modern history include former president Alan Rothenberg and longtime executive Sunil Gulati.

Organization and governance

The federation is structured as a 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Chicago. Its governance is led by a president, currently former international player Cindy Parlow Cone, and a board of directors representing various constituencies within American soccer. Key councils and committees oversee areas such as the Professional League Task Force, referee programs, and medical protocols. It maintains a close, though sometimes contentious, working relationship with domestic professional leagues like Major League Soccer and the National Women's Soccer League, as well as with U.S. Youth Soccer and other youth organizations.

National teams

It fields and manages numerous senior and youth national teams for both men and women. The United States men's national soccer team competes in tournaments like the FIFA World Cup, CONCACAF Gold Cup, and CONCACAF Nations League, with notable successes including reaching the semifinals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The United States women's national soccer team is a global powerhouse, having won four FIFA Women's World Cup titles (1999, 2015, 2019, 2023) and four Olympic gold medals. Other teams include the Under-20 and Under-17 men's sides and the corresponding women's youth teams.

Competitions and tournaments

It sanctions and operates several major competitions. The oldest is the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a knockout tournament open to professional and amateur clubs since 1914. For the national teams, it organizes hosting duties and participation in events like the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the SheBelieves Cup. It also oversees the qualification pathways for FIFA tournaments and sanctions the regular-season and playoff matches of professional leagues operating in the United States. Development tournaments, such as those within the U.S. Soccer Development Academy structure before its 2020 restructuring, were also under its purview.

Development and grassroots programs

Player and coach development initiatives are central to its mission. Historically, it operated the U.S. Soccer Development Academy for elite youth players before transferring that responsibility to Major League Soccer. Current programs include coaching education licenses, the identification and training of young talent through youth national team camps, and partnerships with organizations like U.S. Youth Soccer and U.S. Club Soccer. It also runs the U.S. Soccer Foundation, a separate charitable arm focused on increasing access to the sport through field-building and community programs in underserved areas.

The federation has been involved in several high-profile legal disputes. The most significant was the long-running equal pay lawsuit filed by members of the United States women's national soccer team, which alleged gender-based discrimination in compensation and working conditions compared to the United States men's national soccer team; a landmark settlement was reached in 2022. Other controversies have included disputes with the United States Women's National Soccer Team Players Association over collective bargaining agreements, criticism over its handling of systemic abuse scandals in youth soccer as investigated by former U.S. Attorney Sally Yates, and governance disputes with stakeholders in the North American Soccer League.

Category:Soccer governing bodies in the United States Category:National members of CONCACAF Category:Sports organizations established in 1913