AN OLYMPIC MESSAGE FROM LORI LINDSEY

Today marks 100 days out from the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in Japan.

Like you, I can’t wait for the competition ahead. After the challenges of the past year, we’re all ready for the excitement sports bring our country.

That’s why I’m writing today to ask you if you’ll join me in supporting our U.S. Women’s National Team and staff heading to Japan in just a few months.

For me, the Olympics will always bring back memories of our 2012 Summer Games in London, and our team’s thrilling gold-medal performance.

The Olympic roster is limited to a cutthroat 18 spots. I was named to the team as an “alternate,” which means I traveled and trained with the team for the entire Olympics.

The experience was unforgettable with nonstop buzzing energy, from the big moments – like celebrating our epic 4-3 win in overtime against Canada in the Semifinal at the legendary Old Trafford, home to Manchester United – to the little ones, like walking through the Olympic Village cafeteria, where you just had to laugh at the long line of elite athletes queuing for fast food!

I was there with my best friends and we were all doing everything we could to support the team.

The women who first built this team and brought it into the spotlight showed us how to fight for each other. They taught us that the team is bigger than the individual and we each must leave it better than when we joined.

Will you be part of this legacy and help us continue to develop the future?

U.S. Soccer is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. You can donate now to help build champion teams that inspire us all.

Your gift will also support the incredible team behind the team, who help manage every single detail, starting months in advance, to put our players in the best possible position to succeed. 

 It’s hard to fathom the challenges our team administrators face in organizing hotels, travel, meals, and equipment (literal tons of boots, uniforms, and gear!), or how hard the High Performance staff works to maximize individual performances through science, nutrition, and medical support.

 Staff work long hours with little sleep to ensure players can rest and take care of business on the field.

 As a U.S. Soccer Board Member, I’ve learned even more about the hard work happening behind-the-scenes at the Federation, whether it’s for our 23 National Teams, or developing hundreds of thousands of coaches, referees, and players. I’ve loved bringing my athlete experience to the decision-making table – and continuing to contribute to the sport I love.

Now, with the 100-day countdown to the Olympic rings and flame underway, I hope you’ll join me by making your impact too. Make your contribution today to support our team, sport, and country.

Sincerely,

Lori Lindsey
USWNT Alumna
Member of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors

P.S. Just like our USWNT are pioneers on the field, supporters like you are pioneers and global leaders for the women’s game. We need you.

CHECK OUT PREVIOUS OLYMPIC MESSAGES FROM

VLATKO ANDONOVSKI

KATE MARKGRAF

CINDY PARLOW CONE

THANK YOU FROM WILL WILSON, U.S. SOCCER CEO

On behalf of everyone at U.S. Soccer, I hope you and your loved ones are well, staying safe and enjoying your summer as much as possible.

During the past few weeks, we have honored what would have been the time period of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Japan, recognizing it with stories and special memories.

• U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone shared the kid-in-a-candy-store excitement of her first Olympic tournament and the appreciation she had for the teammates who inspired her.

• USMNT General Manager Brian McBride told us how his unexpected invitation to play in the Olympics as an over-age player – even after his international retirement – was a dream come true.

• USWNT General Manager Kate Markgraf remembered how amazing, challenging and personally rewarding it was to win the gold medal as a new mom.

• USMNT U-23 Head Coach Jason Kreis told how he and his staff found out Olympic qualifying was postponed while already training for the tournament in Mexico, and gave insight into what’s ahead.

• USWNT legend Christie Rampone connected with our Insiders to share stories of her record-breaking Olympic appearances and experiences.

• USWNT Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski reminded us that though our USWNT has qualified for the Olympics, the hard work is still ahead.

Through these stories, we heard a constant theme: it takes all of us to make Olympic dreams come true for our nation. Each time our National Teams steps on the field or podium, there is a tremendous team-behind-the-team that has helped them get there.

From tireless High Performance staff, to dedicated coaches, to effective administrators who make a difference in the push for success, we know that building championship teams takes hard work, resources, passion and great people.

I want to personally thank each and every one of you who has stepped up at this time to join our team-behind-the-team through a contribution to the U.S. Soccer Development Fund. Your support makes amazing things possible as we look ahead to the now 2021 Summer Games. We are deeply grateful.

If you haven’t done so already, it’s not too late to join this effort and make an impact on soccer in America and the teams we love.

We are facing a challenging year while navigating the unforeseen financial strain brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as preparing for the eventual return to global competition.

Please donate now to make a gift that will mean more than ever. Even a small gift of $11 – representing a dollar for each player in a starting lineup – can help sustain and support vital Federation programs to develop world-class players, coaches, referees and National Teams that inspire us all.

Like you, we missed seeing the USA compete in the Olympic Games this summer, and we can’t wait for 2021. There is so much to look forward to... and important work ahead to get there.

Join us. Together, we can make Olympic dreams come true.

Sincerely,

Will Wilson
Chief Executive Officer
U.S. Soccer

AN OLYMPIC MESSAGE FROM VLATKO ANDONOVSKI

TODAY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DIFFERENT. BUT YOU CAN STILL MAKE IT SPECIAL.

As a coach, I miss being on the sidelines during a game. I miss helping players get better during a training. I miss the excitement and work of preparing for a match.

While we know that the health and safety our players is the top priority right now, I am sure you miss seeing the world’s #1-ranked women’s soccer team playing together too.

Today would have been the gold medal match for women’s soccer at the 2020 Olympics in Japan. Our hope is that the USA would have been there at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo.

That dream is now a year away, but still very much alive.

Just a few months ago, the U.S. Women’s National Team played very well in winning the 2020 Concacaf Women's Olympic Qualifying Championship.

It was a great feeling – my first trophy with the USWNT, and I was proud of how the team performed.

But while we saw some fantastic moments in that tournament, everyone knew there was still more we could do. Together, we could get better and better.

When our spring matches were cancelled and the Olympics postponed because of COVID-19, it was challenging. We knew we had to be creative to maintain the growth of our players – mentally, physically and tactically – to get the most out of this unique and unexpected time.

This is where the team-behind-the-team has gone above and beyond. Our High Performance staff is in consistent contact with players across the USA, helping them stay as fit and healthy as possible. Our Coaching staff across the entire women’s program is working together and checking in with players, looking for opportunities to grow in new or different ways. We are talking soccer, watching video and waiting (sometimes patiently, sometimes not!) for the day we can come back together as a team.

In June and July, I’m also thankful I got to watch all of the players in the league compete in the NWSL Challenge Cup in Utah. I congratulate everyone involved for running an excellent and safe tournament, and hope you also tuned in. For our USWNT staff, it was a rare opportunity to see players in different environments – trainings and matches, with their club teams and with their professional coaches.

Once we do get back together as a National Team, we have so much we want to share and can’t wait to bring it to the field again.

LOOKING AHEAD

As head coach, I know (especially now) that it takes everyone – coaches, staff, players, supporters, fans, administrators, and the entire soccer community – to maintain and evolve our championship team to new challenges.

I want to ask you: please be part of this team-behind-the-team!

Donate now to support the U.S. Soccer Development Fund. Even a small gift of $11 – representing a dollar for each player in a starting lineup – will help fund vital programs to develop the next generation of world-class players, coaches and National Teams that inspire us all.

This drive to be the best we can be… it’s who we are. It’s in our DNA. U.S. Soccer is a world-leader in women’s sports. But we cannot sit still. We need to constantly progress, improve and invest the resources and hard work it takes to stay ahead.

Your donation today will mean more than ever as our nonprofit organization faces a difficult year with unforeseen challenges and financial strain brought on by COVID-19.

The USWNT has won Olympic gold medals. We are doing everything we can to make sure we come back as strong as possible and put ourselves in the best position to step on that podium again.  

Join us. Donate today to be part of the excitement ahead.

Sincerely,

Vlatko Andonovski
Head Coach, U.S. Women’s National Team
U.S. Soccer Federation

AN OLYMPIC MESSAGE FROM JASON KREIS

I KEEP TELLING MYSELF THAT EXTRA TIME TO PREPARE IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING.

As Head Coach of the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team, my dream for this summer was to be with our squad in Japan, representing the United States at the Olympic Games.

I remember exactly where we were when we got the news that we had to leave the Concacaf’s Olympic qualifying tournament due to the COVID outbreak. We were in Guadalajara, Mexico, training and primed for the tournament start. Our priority going into the tournament was all about minimizing distractions. We knew how difficult the environment would be and we wanted the team completely focused. We had just over a week until our first game.

Our coaching staff was headed to the field with our cones and equipment to set up for training. We got a call and our team administrator said, “Pack up. We’re going home.”

What followed was a stressful 24 hours. We were worried about safety, closing borders and flights back to all parts of the country. Fortunately, we have fantastic people who work in U.S. Soccer administration, and with a lot of help, we were able to get all our players and staff home in about a day.

The tournament was suspended and we are still awaiting updates on the qualifying process. Much is uncertain.

What we do know is both exciting and challenging. Next summer could be epic for soccer: the potential for the now 2021 Olympic Games, the Concacaf Gold Cup and the start of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying will keep our players extraordinarily busy.

As you probably know, the Olympic team is made up of Under-23 players with three players allowed over the age of 23. With so many talented young U.S. players eligible for both the Olympics and valuable to the senior team, the roster decisions will be made through collaboration with all our technical staffs.

I’m sure this will spur a lot of discussion in the year ahead, but my first goal is simple: qualify. Make Olympic dreams come true for our team and people like you in the United States who love our sport.

LOOKING AHEAD

Sometimes I think about that day when things changed. I think about how our team and staff came together in rushed efforts for the good of the whole. I think about the crazy, difficult world we live in – full of things we maybe can’t control but where we want to do more, do our best, and support each other every step of the way.

Now we look ahead. While our Women’s National Team has qualified for the Olympics next summer, there are still qualifying challenges that await our U-23 MNT.

You can help us do more and be more. You can help support the team on the important steps that lie ahead. Will you join us?

Donate now to support the U.S. Soccer Development Fund. Even a small gift of $11 – representing a dollar for each player in a starting lineup – will help fund vital programs to develop the next generation of world-class players, coaches and National Teams that inspire us all.

It takes tremendous dedication, hard work and critical resources to build championship teams – from talent identification, to high-performance staff, to coaches, to effective administration that make the difference in the last push for success (or even safety). You can be part of this team behind the team.

Your donation now will mean more than ever as we face a difficult year with unforeseen challenges and financial strain brought on by COVID-19.

With hard work – and people like you to support us – I hope we can use this extra time now to be in an even better position to qualify.

Donate today to be part of the excitement ahead.

Sincerely,

Jason Kreis
Head Coach, U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team
U.S. Soccer Federation

AN OLYMPIC MESSAGE FROM KATE MARKGRAF

LIKE YOU, I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE OLYMPICS IN JAPAN THIS SUMMER.

On the original 2020 schedule, this week would have culminated in the women’s soccer quarterfinal matches. Now, we are gearing up for a rescheduled Olympic Games in 2021.

U.S. Soccer is a leader in women’s sports. Our U.S. Women’s National Team has qualified for every summer Olympic games since women’s soccer was introduced in 1996, winning four gold medals along with one silver medal. Each Olympic tournament has been full of spectacular moments and unforgettable memories.

I’ve been fortunate enough to compete in three Olympic Games – Sydney (2000), Athens (2004), and Beijing (2008) – and I remember each one completely differently.

For my first, I was so nervous. I think I was shaking the entire time. I was playing alongside my idols, women who I looked up to everyday as a player. And I was so lucky, because they turned out to be exactly as incredible individuals in real life as you hope your idols will be. We lost in the gold medal match, but that ignited a fire that would keep burning through two more Olympic Games.

In my second Olympic Games, I was playing for my teammates, as many of these amazing women (our inspirational 99ers) were retiring. Winning gold for them meant everything. I always played for someone – and by playing for these women, I had a selfless focus that made it easier to succeed.

My third Olympics was a bit different because it was the first tournament I played for myself… as a mom.

For moms out there, you know already how hard our job is. There were less than two dozen other moms representing the United States in the Olympics that summer. I needed support to achieve my goals – and I had it, from my family and my team. I could not have succeeded if I didn't always have someone coming to my room, asking me if I needed help with my son.

It’s one of my proudest moments to have won a gold medal for myself, as a mother.

The Olympics brings out the best in all of us. We work our entire lives for these moments and that shared joy of winning is contagious. Each unique, incomparable Summer games unites us in global celebration.

And while we are all missing that this summer, we looked forward to a year from now when we can experience those feelings again.

LOOKING AHEAD

When I think about Olympic success, I think about the team. I remember wonderful teammates and people around me who I leaned on for support, even off the field.

Now as U.S. WNT General Manager, I see this even more. The “team behind the team” at every level is critical to its success.

I watch our talented High Performance staff use innovative tools to help maximize players’ on-field output. I see our coaches work tirelessly every day to help players reach their maximum potential and develop strategies to keep up with the mounting competition in the women’s game. I see our administrative staff stretching themselves thin to make sure we’re in the best possible position to give the players everything they need to perform.

Building championship teams to represent our country takes tremendous dedication, hard work and critical resources – and people you can count on.

Will you be part of this team behind the team?

We need you. Donate today to support the U.S. Soccer Development Fund. Even a small gift of $11 – representing a dollar for each player in a starting lineup – will help fund vital programs to develop the next generation of world-class players, coaches and National Teams that inspire us all.

Your donation now will mean more than ever as we face a difficult year with unforeseen challenges and financial strain brought on by COVID-19. 

I hope you’ll join this special effort. As a team, we can do more, be more and make more Olympic dreams possible. And together, we can look forward to another Summer Games full of unique moments and memories.

Sincerely,

Kate Markgraf
General Manager, U.S. Women’s National Team
U.S. Soccer Federation

AN OLYMPIC MESSAGE FROM BRIAN MCBRIDE

BEFORE I EVEN KNEW WHAT SOCCER WAS, I KNEW ABOUT THE OLYMPICS.

Last Friday would have been the Opening Ceremonies of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. Now we are less than one year from the re-scheduled games in 2021.

Much remains uncertain. While the WNT has secured its spot, our U-23 Men’s National Team was working to qualify when the global pandemic halted international game play. We’re awaiting news of when that competition can resume again.

Since becoming U.S. MNT General Manager this past January, having our men’s side qualify for the Olympic Games has been a top priority for me.

The Olympics are special. They bring our teams and our country together in extraordinary ways.

I never thought I would get to be part of an Olympics. It was a childhood dream. Olympic rosters for men’s football are restricted to players under 23 years old, with a maximum of three overage players allowed.

After the 2006 FIFA World Cup, I retired from international competition. Two years later, I was asked to join the young MNT squad as an overage player at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

I didn’t hesitate a second. I was totally in.

It was a great team. It had character, togetherness and a unity that was evident very early on.

One thing I will never forget was a conversation ahead of the Opening Ceremonies. Head coach Peter Novak asked me to check with the team if they’d like to attend.  

Our first match was just two days later, so I figured everyone would say no. We were focused on the game, and getting there would entail a three hour bus ride, plus sitting in the bleachers for most of the day. Still, we had a team meeting about it anyway.

And to a man, everyone said “I want to go to the Opening Ceremonies.”

Looking back, I’m so glad we did. While I’d seen tournament openers before, this was a magnitude all its own. It was so special to walk with the other Olympians, soak in the atmosphere at the stadium and see the Olympic torch lit.

Being able to celebrate it together as a team I think made us even tighter. Two days later, we won our opening match against Japan, 2-0.

The Olympics are full of surprises and spectacular moments that can take our breath away.

LOOKING AHEAD

While our WNT has qualified for next summer, there are still challenges that await our U-23 MNT. Building championship teams to represent our country takes tremendous dedication, hard work and critical resources.

We all have something to give to make Olympic dreams possible. The “team behind the team” at every level is critical to its success.

High Performance staff maximize players’ on-field output. Coaches work tirelessly to develop players with character who make an impact on the field. Administrative staff make sure we’re in the best possible position to rest, move forward, and make each gathering matter.   

So many people help us along the way. Will you be part of this team behind the team?

Donate today to support the U.S. Soccer Development Fund. Even a small gift of $11 – representing a dollar for each player in a starting lineup – will help fund vital programs to develop the next generation of world-class players, coaches and National Teams that inspire us all.

Your donation now will mean more than ever as we face a difficult year with unforeseen challenges and financial strain brought on by COVID-19.

I hope you won’t hesitate to join our team by donating now. There is so much to look forward to, and it takes all of us to bring childhood dreams to life.

Sincerely,

Brian McBride
General Manager, U.S. Men’s National Team
U.S. Soccer Federation