Cindy Parlow Cone won re-election to the US Football Federation president on Saturday, fending off a challenge from her predecessor, Carlos Cordeiro.
Koné received 52.9% of the weighted votes on the USSF National Council and will now serve a new four-year term that expires in 2026, just months before the US, along with Canada and Mexico, host this year’s World Cup. .
“The moment of separation is already in the past. We are one federation. We are one team. I promise to be a leader for all of us in football,” Parlow Cone said after the vote. “I have never been so excited and so full of hope for the future of our beautiful game. Our national teams are young, interesting and full of hope. life changes every day and we are supposed to host at least one World Cup and show the world what we have to offer.
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“The time has come for all of us to work together. No more divisions. We don’t have time for all this. Our moment has come and I promise you that each of you has a friend, a partner and as the president of US Soccer.”
Until three months ago, Kone looked like she could run without resistance. She took over following Cordeiro’s resignation in 2020, when USSF court documents in an equal pay lawsuit made disparaging remarks about female players saying they “do not do equal work that requires equal skills.” [and] effort” because “the general ability to play football required to compete at the level of the senior men’s national team depends significantly on the level of certain physical qualities, such as speed and strength.”
Following Cordeiro’s resignation, Cone guided USSF through the COVID-19 pandemic and, under her supervision, USSF secured a settlement in an equal pay lawsuit as well as a new media rights agreement with Turner Sports.
But dissatisfaction with Cone’s performance in local state associations has prompted some voters to push Cordeiro to run for his old job. There were also concerns that the USSF, under Cone’s leadership, was missing out on an opportunity to develop the sport associated with hosting the World Cup. Cordeiro announced his intention to run in early January.
However, Parlow Cone was able to get enough votes – she won several public endorsements from Athletes’ Council members who received 33.3 percent of the weighted votes – to win re-election. On the eve of Saturday’s election, Cone received the support of 32 players on the US women’s team.
Following this, USWNT players spokeswoman Molly Levinson stated, “Equal pay has gone from a whisper in the locker room to a roar on the field and has revolutionized the sports and football business in the United States and around the world. We look forward to Cindy’s leadership.”