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TORONTO -- U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati says he doesn't have a preferred candidate to succeed him, but he'll think about endorsing someone in the next two months. Gulati announced earlier this week that he would not seek a fourth term as USSF president. Less than 24 hours later, Soccer United Marketing president Kathy Carter announced her candidacy. Sources told ESPN FC that she decided to run at the urging of Gulati and MLS commissioner Don Garber, though both Garber and Carter have denied that is the case. "I haven't endorsed anybody, and I haven't said I have a preferred candidate," Gulati said on Saturday following a news conference for the United Bid Committee that is aiming to bring the 2026 World Cup to North America. "This is all real time in the last few days, so let's see where things go." He added: "I'll certainly think about [endorsing a candidate], but I haven't made a decision yet." At present a total of nine candidates have declared their intentions to run, a group that includes Carter, former U.S. international Paul Caligiuri, current USSF vice president Carlos Cordeiro, Boston-based attorney Steve Gans, Springfield, Mass.-based businessman and soccer entrepreneur Paul Lapointe, former player and current broadcaster Kyle Martino, U.S. international Hope Solo, New York-based attorney Mike Winograd and former U.S. international and current broadcaster Eric Wynalda. Gulati said he wasn't surprised at the number of candidates lining up to succeed him, joking that there are "far fewer than there were in the Republican primary." Gulati did question how many candidates will satisfy all the requirements to run, which include passing a background check and having three letters of nomination from voting members or entities. The deadline for submitting the necessary paperwork to run for the USSF presidency is Dec. 12. "I don't think there will be [nine] candidates come February, and I don't think all the candidates will get the requisite nominations," he said. "Am I surprised [at the number of candidates]? No, I think probably some of the candidates don't have a full understanding of the job they are running for. That's probably true of almost anybody that runs for an office. My guess is that President Trump got surprised by a few things his first week on the job." Gulati added that despite telling ESPN FC earlier this week that he wasn't running for re-election, he has yet to tell the USSF that he has formally withdrawn from the race, though he said he would "take care of that in the next few days." The formal declaration could be important because Gulati has already received nomination letters from voters. Voters were given until Nov. 27 to rescind letters of nomination, though it's unclear at this point what the protocol is if a candidate withdraws. Gulati stressed it wasn't up to him to "release my delegates." "If I formally withdraw there may be a certain treatment [of my nomination letters]," he said. The election for the USSF presidency will be held Feb. 10.
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