United States Soccer Federation

The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) (trademarked as "U.S. Soccer Federation") is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. The headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois.

It is a member of FIFA, and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's and women's national teams. The USSF is also responsible for sanctioning referees and soccer tournaments for most soccer leagues in the United States.

History

What is now the United States Soccer Federation was originally the US Football Association, formed in 1913 by the merger of the American Football Association and the American Amateur Football Association and became one of the earliest member organizations of FIFA. The governing body of the sport in the US did not have the word soccer in its name until 1945, when it became the US Soccer Football Association. It did not drop the word football from its name until 1974, when it became the US Soccer Federation.

The USSF had the honor of hosting the Men's in 1994, the Women's World Cup in 1999 and 2003, and the Olympic Games in 1984 and 1996. Its Women's national team has also had the distinction of winning two Women's World Cups in 1991 and 1999 (placing third in 1995 and 2003); the Olympic Gold Medal in 1996 and 2004; and the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup in 2000 and 2002. The US Men's National Team (USMNT) has had a less stellar history. The USMNT was invited to the inaugural World Cup in 1930 and qualified for the World Cup in 1934, finishing a respectible 3rd in 1930 out of 13 teams participating. In 1950 the US scored their most surprising victory with a 1-0 win over heavily favored England, who were amongst the world's best sides at the time, which has been documented in the book and now movie The Game of Their Lives.

The US failed to reach another World Cup Final until an upstart USMNT made an unlikely qualification for Italia 1990 with the "goal heard around the world" scored by Paul Caligiuri against Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain on 19 November 1989 which started the modern era of soccer in the United States. The 1990 USMNT team was quickly disposed of at the World Cup. The Women's World Cup was inaugurated in 1991, and the US WNT became the first team to win the prize after beating Norway in the final. The Women's World Cup demonstrated the high caliber of play in women's soccer. That set the stage for the US to host the men's 1994 FIFA World Cup, the world's biggest sporting event, drawing 94,194 fans to the final game. The USMNT made a surprising run to the second round with a shocking "own goal" victory over Colombia which saw the own goal scorer later shot to death in his homeland. 1998 saw another disappointing addition to the history of US men's soccer as the team finished dead last (on goal difference) among the 32 teams that qualified for the World Cup. This embarrassment, which included total collapse of team chemistry, led to the sacking of the once considered promising head coach Steve Sampson and the hiring of Bruce Arena, who has since gone on to become the most successful USMNT head coach in history.

The next year, the U.S. hosted the Women's World Cup for the first time. During their tournament run, the WNT established a new level of popularity for the women's side of the sport, climaxing with a final against China that drew 90,185 fans—an all-time attendance record for a women's sports event—to a sold-out Rose Bowl. After neither team scored in regulation or extra time, the final went to a penalty shootout, which the WNT won 5-4. The celebration by Brandi Chastain after she converted the winning penalty, in which she took off her shirt, revealing her sports bra in the process, is one of the most famous images in the history of women's sports.

In 2002 Bruce Arena led a mix of veterans and youth to a quarterfinal appearance after dispatching the then considered contenders Portugal in the first round and archrivals Mexico in the round of 16 before ultimately falling to runners-up Germany in a controversial loss. Bruce Arena looked to match or surpass that feat in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany but faced one of the toughest draws with Italy, the Czech Republic and Ghana in the first round. The U.S. lost to the Czech Republic 3-0 in their opening game with Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky scoring 2 memorable goals. The U.S. drew with Italy 1-1 in their second game. The match finished with only 19 players after 2 U.S. and 1 Italian player received red cards. However, they would lose 2-1 to Ghana is their next match, preventing them from advancing from the group stage. In the wake of the World Cup, Arena was sacked effective at the end of 2006.

In recent years, USA has become known for producing world-class goalkeepers;http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/07/AR2006060702436.html three U.S. keepers started in the English Premier League in the 2003-04 season. Two of the three combined to win back-to-back Goalkeeper of the Year awards, as voted by the players, with Brad Friedel in 2002-03 and Tim Howard in 2003-04.

Players

For more details on famous current and past players for the United States Mens National Team see United States men's national soccer team.

For more details on famous current and past players for the United States Womens National Team see United States women's national soccer team.

National Training Center

In 2003, U.S. Soccer opened their National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson. The $130 million facility includes a soccer-specific stadium, home to the MLS teams, Los Angeles Galaxy and C.D. Chivas USA.

Professional leagues

Major League Soccer is a first division soccer league in the United States. A separate organization, the United Soccer Leagues, operates two other men's professional leagues, the second division USL First Division and the third division USL Second Division. Another third division league, the National Premier Soccer League also exits. The major men's indoor league is the MISL.

Today, there are two first division, professional development women's leagues; the WPSL and the USL's semi-professional W-League. A top-level full-time professional league, Women's United Soccer Association, suspended operations in 2003.

The USSF has also, since 1914, sponsored a nationwide tournament open to all USSF affiliated clubs, now known as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Associations affiliated with USSF

Adult level

Youth Teams

Leagues and Organizations

Youth level

Under 21, 18, 16 National Teams
Super Y-League
Divisional Teams
United States Youth Soccer Association

External links

CONCACAF | Soccer in the United States | 1913 establishments | Sports governing bodies of the United States

United States Soccer Federation | Fédération des États-Unis de football

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