United States - United States Soccer Federation

The United States Soccer Federation (USSF or U.S. Soccer) is the official Sport governing body of the sport of football (soccer) in the United States. Its headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the United States men's national soccer team, United States women's national soccer team, futsal and United States Men's Paralympic Soccer Team national teams. The USSF is also responsible for sanctioning referee (football) 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 FIFA World Cup in 1994 FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Women's World Cup in FIFA Women's World Cup 1999 and FIFA Women's World Cup 2003, and the Olympic Games in 1984 Summer Olympics and 1996 Summer Olympics. The women's national team has also had the distinction of winning two Women's World Cups in FIFA Women's World Cup 1991 and 1999 (placing third in FIFA Women's World Cup 1995, 2003, and 2007); the Olympic Gold Medal in 1996, 2004, and 2008; 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 FIFA World Cup and qualified for the World Cup in 1934 FIFA World Cup, finishing a respectable 3rd in 1930 out of 13 teams participating. In 1950 FIFA World Cup the US scored their most surprising victory with a 1-0 win over heavily favored England national football team, 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 (2005 film) (retitled The Miracle Match for DVD release).

The US failed to reach another World Cup Final until an upstart national team qualified for the 1990 FIFA World Cup with the "goal heard around the world" scored by Paul Caligiuri against Trinidad and Tobago national football team 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 FIFA Women's World Cup was inaugurated in FIFA Women's World Cup 1991, and the USWNT became the first team to win the prize after beating Norway women's national football team 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 national football team which saw Andrés Escobar, the player responsible for the own goal, later shot to death in his homeland. 1998 FIFA World Cup 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 FIFA Women's World Cup 1999 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 women's national football team that drew 90,185 fans—an all-time attendance record for a women's sports event—to a sold-out Rose Bowl (stadium). After neither team scored in regulation or extra time, the final went to a penalty shootout (football), which the WNT won 5-4. The goal 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 FIFA World Cup Bruce Arena led a mix of veterans and youth to a quarterfinal appearance after dispatching the then-considered contenders Portugal national football team in the first round and archrivals Mexico national football team in the round of 16 before falling to eventual runners-up Germany in a controversial loss.

Bruce Arena looked to match or surpass that feat in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. The team was lead by a handful of youthful talent, namely DaMarcus Beasley, Landon Donovan, Eddie Johnson, and Oguchi Onyewu. However, the U.S. faced group of death with Italy national football team, the Czech Republic national football team and Ghana national football team 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 in their next match, preventing them from advancing from the group stage. In the wake of the World Cup, Arena was told that his contract would not be renewed at the end of 2006. Bob Bradley subsequently became head coach in 2007.

National Training Center

In 2003, U.S. Soccer opened their National Training Center at The Home Depot Center in the Los Angeles, California suburb of Carson, California. The $130 million facility includes a soccer-specific stadium, home to the MLS teams, Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA. The Home Depot Center's main entrance is located at 18400 Avalon Boulevard. Coming through the main entrance, there are five full soccer fields (four grass and one artificial) for use. Both the senior and youth men's and women's United States National Teams hold camps at The Home Depot Center regularly.

Professional leagues

Major League Soccer is a first division soccer league in the United States, with Toronto FC in Canada. It is comprised of 15 teams divided into two conferences, East and West. 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.

A top-level full-time women's professional league, Women's United Soccer Association, suspended operations in 2003, but was replaced by a new league Women's Professional Soccer in 2009.

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

United States men's national soccer team
United States women's national soccer team

Youth Teams

United States U-23 men's national soccer team
United States U-20 men's national soccer team
United States U-17 men's national soccer team
United States U-21 women's national soccer team (Now U-23)
United States U-20 women's national soccer team
United States U-17 women's national soccer team

Leagues and Organizations

Major League Soccer
United Soccer Leagues
National Premier Soccer League
Major Indoor Soccer League (2001 – 2008)
USASA
US National Soccer Team Players Association
United States Club Soccer

Youth level

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

Differently Abled Soccer

United States Power Soccer Association (USPSA) The newest affiliate of USSF - for athletes who use powered wheelchairs to play power soccer

United States Soccer Federation related pages

Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Is., Canada, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, St Kitts & Nevis, St Vincent/Grenadine, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States, US Virgin Islands

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Soccer_Federation