U.S. Soccer Reserve Summary

At the heart of the USSF’s ability to achieve its mission is the wherewithal to fund the growth of the sport for long-term success. After four years of hard work to stabilize revenues and extensive cost-cutting in every area of the organization (except player development and National Teams), U.S. Soccer is financially strong enough to support the seven initiatives that constitute its mission, which is to build the sport of soccer in the U.S.

 Major reserve funding achieved by:

• Trimming operating costs by $8 million, including a staff reduction from 112 to 69 and a hiring and salary freeze for more than 12 months [$2MM/yr x 4 years]
• The first organizational fee increase in 17 years (50 cents per registered player in 2001), which increased revenue by $8 million and enables U.S. Soccer to pay for basic services [$2MM/yr x 4 years]
• Increased international game activity in the U.S. contributed $4 million [$1MM x 4 years]
• Accruing the Board and Budget & Audit Committee mandated of an operating reserve of $9 million (these emergency funds cover six months of operating costs)

Even though the USSF has built a reserve fund to approximately $30 million, the organization currently has reserve and capital commitments of $39 million, which means the reserve fund is still somewhat under-funded. Current reserve commitments include:

• $14.5 million for player development (which includes the board of directors-mandated funds necessary to assure the five-year sustainability of ongoing and new national youth team programs)
• $13.6 million in commitments to new soccer stadiums, another important investment in the future of U.S. Soccer (which includes the final Home Depot Center payment, $5 million for the new facility in Frisco, Texas, and $5 million for a future investment in a facility currently being developed [i.e., New Jersey, Colorado, Washington, D.C., etc.])
• $1.9 million for on-going coaching and refereeing programming initiatives
• $9 million emergency operating reserve (six months of operating costs for emergency and worst case scenario plans)

The financial strength of the U.S. Soccer Federation is the foundation on which soccer development in the U.S. is based. The USSF Board of Directors and staff have the fundamental obligation to make certain that the financial foundation of the organization is firm, so it can deliver on its mission – developing the programs necessary to build long-term success of the sport of soccer in the United States.  

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