Good morning!

Members of the federation, friends in soccer—it’s an honor to speak with you today.

I want to begin by very directly addressing a matter that some of you have asked me about during this campaign.

Yes, I am 28 years old.

And while this is of course a sign of youth, I also see it as a sign of my commitment to the future of the Federation.

And for the few of you who are singularly focused on my age… the good news is that I’m not getting any younger!

I stand before you today humbled and grateful for how soccer has shaped my entire life, including my service here at the Federation.

You see, my 28 years of experience with soccer have been nothing short of an honest-to-God American Dream.

I was born and raised in Mexico, where soccer is religion.

I dreamed of playing professionally, but that would have required dropping out of school.

Instead, at 13 years old, soccer opened the door for me to come study in America, the land of opportunity.

In South Texas, I played US Youth Soccer, and then I was fortunate enough to join the Development Academy.

Later on, I played Division 1 soccer in college, joining the team as a freshman walk-on and graduating as senior captain, elected by my teammates.

I never made it pro, but I got to fulfill that dream—in a way—when I worked as a data analyst for Orlando City and moonlighted as a practice player for Orlando Pride.

Then, I was fortunate to serve at Soccer House, where I worked closely and built friendships with so many of you—members, staff, and players.

And so, after watching countless World Cups as a fan, it was a privilege to be in France in 2019 to play a small role in the Federation’s support of our Women’s National Team as they became back-to-back world champions!

Most recently—as Chief Soccer Officer at Gotham FC—it was the thrill of a lifetime to join the team in lifting the NWSL trophy after we went from worst to first in a single season!

My journey was only possible thanks to the values I learned playing the game: teamwork, leadership, and determination.

And since soccer has given me everything, I want to give back to the game I love by serving the Federation.

I want to do everything I can to make sure every person in America—regardless of race, income, gender, disability, age, and nationality—has the same opportunity that I had to allow soccer to change their life for the better.

I believe that if you love soccer—like all of us do—there’s nowhere better to be in the world for the next four years than in the United States. 

We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform the game forever and for everyone.

To make the most of this opportunity, we need leaders who can help build bridges across our membership, who can help ensure that every community is included in the growth of the game, and who can help shape the future of soccer in America to reach our potential and match our ambition.

With Cindy and JT at the helm, I know our Federation’s brightest days are ahead of us, and what makes me most hopeful and optimistic about the future of our game is working alongside so many of you. 

Over the past year, I made a point to visit every single one of our 55 states. That’s because I believe that every one of you matters and every one of you deserves to be heard.

Throughout my travels, one thing stood out above all else: soccer is a team sport, and it’s also a people business.

The people I met in big cities and small towns—Beckley, West Virginia; Plymouth, Massachusetts; Milan, Michigan; Mandeville, Louisiana; Kalispell, Montana; Waipio, Hawai’i—we are all united by a shared belief that soccer should be fun, accessible, and a way to bring people together.

That’s what it means to be One Nation. One Team. Una Nación. Un Equipo.

If you are as excited as I am about what this future—our future—can look like, I’m asking for your support, and I hope you will vote to move US Soccer forward.