Will Wilson was named CEO / Secretary General of the U.S. Soccer Federation on March 23, 2020. Wilson, 52, comes to U.S. Soccer with 29 years of vast and diverse experience in the international and domestic sports industry.

 

Wilson brings a strong vision and a proven track record of developing and implementing sound strategies in all aspects of the sports business. He joins U.S. Soccer from global sports agency Wasserman, where he served as Executive Vice President and Co-Head of Football for the last eight years. Wilson also held executive positions with Soccer United Marketing, the National Football League, Champ Car World Series and the Arena Football Lesgue.

 

Wilson’s vision helped launch Wasserman’s NFL representation practice with the signing of 2012 No.1 NFL Draft pick Andrew Luck, whose 2016 contract extension was then the largest in league history. During his tenure, the division grew to represent more than 100 NFL players with senior agents located across the country, one of the most comprehensive in the sport. As an NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor, Wilson has a deep understanding of labor issues as well as working within the constructs of a Collective Bargaining Agreement.

 

Prior to Wasserman, Wilson served as Executive Vice President of International Business & Special Events for Major League Soccer (MLS) and Soccer United Marketing (SUM) from 2008-12. Fluent in Spanish, he oversaw the League’s international game business and the promotion of numerous major soccer matches and events while negotiating business relationships with some of the world’s premier soccer properties.

 

During his time with MLS and SUM, Wilson managed all international business relationships, including FC Barcelona, Manchester United, the Concacaf Gold Cup and the game partnership with the Mexican Football Federation. Wilson’s group also oversaw MLS’s marquee events, including their annual MLS All-Star Game and MLS Cup.

 

Wilson lived in Mexico City for five years when he served as Managing Director of NFL Mexico. He guided all aspects of the League business in Latin America, including sponsorship, media rights, licensing and special events. He played a substantial role in securing for Mexico the first-ever regular season NFL game outside of the United States, which drew a record crowd of 103,000 fans at Azteca Stadium. He also led the negotiation team that restructured the NFL in-market terrestrial agreements to include joint live Super Bowl broadcasts for the first time.

 

Prior to his time in Mexico, Wilson served as General Manager of the NFL Europe League Scottish Claymores based in Glasgow, Scotland, where he developed and managed all business initiatives including ticket sales, sponsorship, marketing/promotion, public relations and event and fan development programs. Wilson also worked in Germany with the Frankfurt Galaxy in the World League of American Football as the Assistant Director of Public Relations.

 

Born in London, England, Wilson graduated with a degree in English Literature from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he was a four-year letter winner in football. He also holds an MBA from the Tecnológico de Monterrey Graduate School of Business (EGADE) in Monterrey, Mexico. He has lived 28 years of his life abroad.

 

Wilson has volunteered as a youth coach in soccer, football, baseball and basketball and has experience in youth soccer having served as an Executive Board Member for North Carolina FC Youth and for the Triangle Futbol Club Alliance.

 

He is married and has three soccer-playing children.