Gans, Wynalda Make Pitches For USSF Presidency To Replace Gulati

The race for the U.S. Soccer Federation presidency "began to heat up" yesterday at the annual meeting for the National Council of the U.S. Adult Soccer Association near Lake Tahoe. Boston-based attorney Steve Gans and FS1 soccer analyst and former USMNT player Eric Wynalda "made formal pitches to advance their bids to replace Sunil Gulati." Candidate Paul Lapointe was "not able to attend because of a prior commitment," and another rumored candidate, Landon Donovan, was "not in attendance, either." Gulati was present, but he "declined to make a presentation," having not "made up his mind as to if he'll seek a fourth term" (ESPNFC.com, 10/22).

All candidates are "jockeying for position ahead of what could be a chaotic and nasty campaign" culminating in an election on Feb. 10 in Orlando. Each official candidate for that election will "need at least three formal nominations from delegates by Dec. 12" (SI.com, 10/20).