Carlos Cordeiro Wins U.S. Soccer Election, Becomes Federation President

Sunil Gulati's successor is selected after three ballots, with Carlos Cordeiro moving from U.S. Soccer vice president to the top seat.

For the first time since 2006, there is a new U.S. Soccer president, and that distinction belongs to Carlos Cordeiro. 

Sunil Gulati's successor was chosen at U.S. Soccer's Annual General Meeting in Orlando, Florida, where the election determined which of the eight candidates will lead the federation forward. That choice is Cordeiro, the sitting vice president of U.S. Soccer who will move to the top seat.

Those candidates entering the election were Paul Caligiuri, Kathy Carter, Carlos Cordeiro, Steve Gans, Kyle Martino, Hope Solo, Michael Winograd and Eric Wynalda. According to SI's Grant Wahl, Cordeiro had received the support of the Athlete's Council, which carries 20% of the weighted vote prior to the election, while Carter had the support of the Professional Council, which was a shade over 24% of the vote.

(For more on Cordeiro and his vision, check out his interviews with SI's Grant Wahl and Brian Straus).

Each of the candidates had five minutes to speak at the National Council Meeting prior to the election.

Watch the stream of the event, via U.S. Soccer, below:

The first round of voting did not yield a winner, with a simple majority required. 

The first ballot results are in. There is no majority winner yet, and there will be a second ballot #USSFPresident https://t.co/YCmvUfabuW pic.twitter.com/JEeg1iO9D0

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) February 10, 2018

Caligiuri, who received the least amount of votes, withdrew after the first round.

After the second round of voting, Cordeiro gained ground on reaching that 50%+1 benchmark, but he didn't quite reach it. Winograd, who received no votes on the second ballot, subsequently withdrew, and so did Gans, leaving five candidates.

They will go to a THIRD ballot at the U.S. Soccer election https://t.co/OeAgqRuDo6 #USSFPresident pic.twitter.com/wfcIzT7gES

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) February 10, 2018

Cordeiro received the boost he needed in the third round of voting to win the presidency.

BREAKING: Carlos Cordeiro has been elected as the next president of U.S. Soccer https://t.co/kAyHxUA8HV #USSFPresident pic.twitter.com/M44x16zRgF

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) February 10, 2018

It's an incredible honor to be elected @ussoccer President. I'm grateful to everyone who supported my campaign and I salute all the candidates who ran. I promise to work with all our members to unite our soccer family! #AimHigher

— Carlos Cordeiro (@CACSoccer) February 10, 2018

Cordeiro will assume Gulati's seat with immediate effect and embark on a four-year term, while the outgoing president will remain in his role on the FIFA Council while also spearheading the USA's joint effort with Canada and Mexico to host the 2026 World Cup.