Media Credential Applications Now Open for 2019 National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Abby Wambach and Sunil Gulati to be inducted in the National Soccer Hall of Fame on September 21, 2019
Frisco, Texas – Media credential applications for the 2019 National Soccer Hall of Fame are now open. The ceremony will take place at the National Soccer Hall of Fame at Toyota Stadium on Saturday, September 21.
The 2019 Hall of Fame class features all-time leading goal scorer in women’s international soccer and U.S. Women’s National Team player Abby Wambach and former U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati.
Wambach made 255 full international appearances and scored 184 goals for the United States between her National Team debut in 2001 and her final game in 2015, putting her 26 goals ahead of the previous international and U.S. National Team scoring leader, Mia Hamm. She has been named the USSF Female Player of the year six times, (2003, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012), the Concacaf female player of the year in 2014 and the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year in 2012. In 2013, she was named to the U.S. Women’s National Team All-Time Best XI.
Gulati was president of U.S. Soccer Federation from 2006 through 2018. He was a USSF Committee Chairman in the 1980s, Executive Vice President of the 1994 World Cup Organizing Committee, Deputy Commissioner of Major League Soccer from 1995 to 1999 and Executive Vice President of the USSF from 2000 to 2006. In 2013, Gulati was elected to serve as a member of the FIFA Executive Committee (now FIFA Council) and positioned the United States among the decision-makers within world soccer’s governing body. His vision reached its apex when he engineered the effort to establish a United Bid with Canada and Mexico to bring the 2026 FIFA World Cup to North America. The first of its kind approach proved successful, and the tournament, to be held seven years from now, will long serve as a huge driver of interest in the sport. Gulati also led the charge in establishing the National Women’s Soccer League, a competition that has eclipsed its predecessors in both longevity and viability and provides an important platform for the development of women’s players, coaches and referees.
The second annual Hall of Fame Weekend at Toyota Stadium will be held September 21-22, 2019. The weekend features the National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, September 21 followed by the Hall of Fame concert, presented by WinStar World Casino and Resort, featuring OneRepublic, The Fray and Frisco native Maelyn Jarmon. The weekend will conclude when FC Dallas hosts New York City FC in the National Soccer Hall of Fame Game presented by AdvoCare on Sunday, September 22 at Toyota Stadium.
Media interested in covering the 2019 Hall of Fame Weekend should apply through U.S. Soccer’s Media Services Page. The deadline to apply for press credentials is Friday, September 13. Media can access the online application via the following link: https://www.ussoccer.com/media-services/media-credentials
For more information on accreditation or if you have technical difficulties in submitting an accreditation request, please contact Ilyanna Gutierrez at igutierrez@ussoccer.org.