David Downs To Lead U.S. Soccer's Bid For '18 Or '22 World Cup

By Tripp Mickle, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

Downs To Lead U.S. Soccer's Bid For Upcoming FIFA World Cups

U.S. Soccer today is expected to introduce Univision Sports President DAVID DOWNS as Exec Dir of the USA Bid Committee for the '18 or '22 World Cup, according to sources. Downs has handled sports programming for the largest Spanish-language TV network in the U.S. since '01, where he oversees and manages Univision's Spanish-language rights to the FIFA World Cup, MLS, U.S. Soccer, Copa America and other soccer properties. He first joined the Spanish-language channel in '99 as Senior VP of its sports division. The hiring puts someone with extensive soccer experience and deep int'l soccer relationships at the helm of one of U.S. Soccer's most important endeavors since the organization hosted the '94 World Cup. The NGB is expected to announce its intention to submit a simultaneous bid to FIFA for the '18 and '22 FIFA World Cups today at 3:00pm ET. U.S. Soccer Federation President SUNIL GULATI is expected to answer questions and introduce Downs at that time. A podcast and transcript of the call will be available several hours afterward.