Sunil Gulati, president of U.S. Soccer for
the last 12 years, has decided not to seek a
fourth term as head of the federation.
“I spent a lot of time thinking about it
and talking about it with people in many
different positions—many of whom told me
I should run,” Gulati told ESPN. “But in the
end, I think the best thing for me personally,
and for the federation, is to see someone
new in the job.”
His departure comes on the heels of a
crushing loss to Trinidad and Tobago that
kept the men’s national team from making
its 8th straight trip to the World Cup
Finals. But it shouldn’t overshadow Gulati’s
achievements during
his long association with U.S. Soccer.
The Allahabad-born Gulati, 58, who
teaches economics at Columbia University,
has fostered the immense growth of soccer
in America and was instrumental in the
formation of a professional women’s soccer
league in 2012.
While he isn’t running for re-election,
Gulati is still trying to get votes—from FIFA’s
Congress. “I’m going to spend a lot of time
over the next six months trying to win an
election, and that election is to bring the
2026 World Cup here,” he said.