Orlando, Fla. • Carlos Cordeiro was elected president of the U.S. Soccer Federation on Saturday, assuming control of an organization that must chart a new course after its men's team failed to qualify for this year's World Cup.
Cordeiro has been the right-hand man of outgoing president Sunil Gulati. He now is charged with running the U.S. end of a bid with Mexico and Canada for the right to host the 2026 World Cup.
The vote initially featured eight candidates. Cordeiro pulled away from Kathy Carter, on-leave president of Major League Soccer's marketing arm. She had the backing of MLS Commissioner Don Garber and narrowly trailed Cordeiro on the first ballot.