Landon Donovan (pictured) and Mia Hamm are working to bring the World Cup back to American soil.
(Getty) The all-time leading scorer for the U.S. Men’s National Team, Donovan is a two-time recipient of the U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year award and three-time MLS Cup Champion. Hamm, a two-time FIFA World Cup Champion and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, retired from soccer in 2004 after scoring more international goals than any other player, male or female, in the history of the sport. “The U.S. Soccer Federation has been an instrumental part of my development as a soccer player for more than a decade, so it’s an honor for me to be asked to join the USA Bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022,” said Donovan. “I was too young to play in the World Cup this country hosted in 1994, but all of us playing in MLS know it was the success of that event that laid the foundation for our league. I look forward to doing whatever I can to help bring the World Cup back to the United States.” “I’m honored to join the USA Bid Committee Board of Directors and do my part to raise awareness about our bid to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup and our country’s overall passion and support for the game,” said Hamm. “As someone who has played in two Women’s World Cups on American soil – one of which we had the extreme satisfaction of winning in front of a home crowd — I know just how great a host this country can be for international soccer at its highest level of competition.” Both Donovan and Hamm will play an influential role as members of the Board of Directors as the USA Bid Committee prepares its application and campaign to bring the world’s largest sporting event to the United States. “Landon Donovan has been a valued part of the U.S. Soccer family since his teenage years in the residency program and throughout his illustrious career with the U.S. Men’s National Team and MLS,” said Sunil Gulati, the Chairman for the USA Bid Committee and President of U.S. Soccer. “He exemplifies the development of soccer both on and off the field and represents that generation of players who have already started to fulfill FIFA’s vision for the sport in our country. His presence on our Board of Directors will do a great deal to raise awareness of our bid domestically and within the international soccer community.” Gulati added, “There simply isn’t a better ambassador for the sport of soccer or for what it is to be an American than Mia Hamm and we are privileged to have her presence on our Board of Directors. Her incomparable talent and grace on the field is well documented, but her generosity and graciousness in promoting charity and equal opportunity off the field makes her an inspiration to which we can all aspire.”
Donovan played for the U.S. in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, helping them to a fourth place finish. Having earned 108 caps since 2000, including play in two World Cups, Donovan has recorded more goals (37), assists (31) and points (105) than any other player in U.S. Men’s National Team history. He also helped the United States advance to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan.