Affiliations with U.S. Soccer and its leadership
Soccer United Marketing is affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation.[9] Regarding the relationship between Soccer United Marketing and United States Soccer Federation, Roger Pielke writes that the United States Soccer Federation "exempts from its conflict of interest policy 'any constituent or affiliated member entities of U.S. Soccer'", which includes Major League Soccer (MLS) and Soccer United Marketing.[9]
Pielke writes, sourcing the New York Daily News, that this conflict of interest exemption allowed Sunil Gulati to become President of the United States Soccer Federation while also being a founder, board member, and deputy commissioner of MLS, and a member of Soccer United Marketing's board of directors.[9][10]
Describing the relationship between MLS and the United States Soccer Federation, MLS Commissioner and Soccer United Marketing CEO Don Garber told Sports Illustrated, "Sunil and Dan (Flynn) had this view that as the governing body of the sport they would make commitments on the commercial side and on the competitive side to have MLS be the leader of the sport." He continued to say, "That's not something that exists in other parts of the world. I believe that Sunil could have made a different decision when he came in as president (in 2006) and had he made that decision MLS isn't be what it is today. Because we are joined at the hip.”
Similarly describing the relationship between Soccer United Marketing and the United States Soccer Federation, USSF President Sunil Gulati said, "The growth of the game goes hand in hand with what the league has done over the last 16 years and the growth of so much of what's going on in U.S. Soccer. The working relationship between the two is extraordinary and my guess is there aren’t many in the world that are like that. We don’t have the sorts of conflicts you see between leagues and federations – that's a plus."[11]
Soccer United Marketing and the United States Soccer Federation have played important roles in establishing MLS as the top professional closed-league system for soccer in America. MLS has this structure, as described by the Professional Council of the United States Soccer Federation as "a unique ownership and operating structure, based on a 'single entity' concept." The Professional Council goes on to explain that "MLS" 'single entity' structure allows investors to own an interest in the league, as well as individual teams."[12]
In 2022, the U.S. Soccer Federation and Soccer United Marketing ended their commercial rights partnership. Despite the ending of the partnership, both organizations committed to continue working together.[13]
