CHICAGO (AFP) - US Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said Friday he will not resign and might even seek re-election despite the Americans' failing to qualify for next year's World Cup in Russia.
Just minutes after US coach Bruce Arena resigned in the wake of Tuesday's 2-1 loss at Trinidad and Tobago, which saw the US fail to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986, Gulati took the blame for the humiliating failure.
"It's a shock to the system. We fully expected to qualify," he said. "It's a big disappointment... I certainly take responsibility for us not getting to Russia."
Gulati, a 58-year-old India-born American, then outlined why he thinks he remains the correct person to guide the programme back from the abyss, including the US role in a combined bid with Mexico and Canada for the 2026 World Cup.
"I don't plan to resign," Gulati said. "We've got a lot of things on our agenda, including a World Cup bid that's due in March. "I don't plan to do that - because of everything, where the sport is now, the role I played in it and where it could go if I choose to run again."
Gulati became the US Soccer supremo on March 11, 2006, and finished a four-year term on the FIFA executive committee earlier this year. He has overseen a US growth in interest, but his watch also included this year's bitter flop and numerous calls from supporters for his quick resignation.
"I can understand the frustration, sure," Gulati said. "We'll do everything we can to get the team and the program back on track so we can be successful. We understand how much anger and hurt there is from Tuesday night."
A new election for US Soccer president is set for February with candidate nominations due in December, allowing time for background checks. Gulati said he will decide "in the next few weeks" about whether or not to run again but noted, "I have reached out to people about endorsing me or nominating me in the last few weeks".
Gulati vowed a "deep dive" review of the entire program from player development and coaching to personnel.
"We're going to look and see what needs to be slightly changed and what needs a complete overhaul," he said. "Not qualifying is not acceptable."
Arena, 66, was called upon last November to replace Jurgen Klinsmann as US coach after two losses to begin qualifying. Arena, who guided the US team into the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals and at the 2006 World Cup, said missing the finals was a "major setback". "Everyone involved in the programme gave everything they had for the last 11 months and, in the end, we came up short," Arena said. "No excuses. We didn't get the job done and I accept responsibility. "While this is a difficult time, I maintain a fierce belief that we are heading in the right direction."
Gulati said the US team will select an interim coach to guide the squad in two European friendlies next month, a choice likely to come in the next 10 days. The long-term search for a new manager through 2022 will take much longer and could involve candidates worldwide. One early name mentioned is Tab Ramos, a former US national team player and current US under-20 coach.
