Gang,

Here is the biggest interview for Global Futbol so far. Some of you may remember I put together a small memo for Sunil Gulati after the World Cup. He was kind enough to respond and I recently asked him if he would take the time to answer some questions for us. He agreed and the first set of Q's and A's can be found below.
Feel free to leave your comments and thoughts on his answers below.

GF Q1. You were criticized in some quarters for not "delivering" a big name international coach to replace Bruce Arena. Do you feel vindicated after Bob Bradley led the national team to Gold Cup victory?

SG: "Our goal throughout the hiring process was to find the coach best equipped to help move our national team forward, and Bob was certainly on that list from the outset. I think Bob has done a very good job of not only getting results, but laying the groundwork for the future success of this team. We all know results are important, but equally important at this stage is establishing a good foundation for the team. Already in 2007 he has used 50 different players in 14 matches, giving him a great picture of the talent available in the player pool."

GF Q2. Clearly the decision was made to prioritize the Gold Cup this summer while still trying to benefit from playing Copa America. What was the basis of the decision? Was this about ensuring the US dominates its region? Did the prize (for winning Gold Cup) of a trip to the Confederations Cup 2009 impact your thinking?

SG: "One of our most important goals in 2007 was to win the Gold Cup and position ourselves to compete in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. To play in a tournament against some of the top teams in the world, like current World Champions Italy, Brazil and others, a year before the World Cup is extremely beneficial. When you add in the fact that the tournament will serve as a dry run for South Africa 2010, the opportunity to experience the climate, stadiums, travel and other little details will be very valuable."

GF Q3. The summer after a World Cup can often be a quiet one. However, this has been a busy summer for US Soccer - a Gold Cup win, taking a young team to Copa America, David Beckham joining the LA Galaxy, the U20 side playing well in Canada and the launch of Super Liga. Do you think that critics of the sport in the US have missed the forest for the trees?

SG: "I'm very pleased with the how the entire year has gone. By the end of 2007, the U.S. Men's National Team will have played 19 matches, competed in two major international tournaments, and traveled abroad five times to face a variety of quality competition. The U-20's had a very good run in Canada and showed a lot of promise. Our women's team is one of the favorites heading into the Women's World Cup in China, and the U-17 World Cup in Korea kicks off in a couple weeks. It is a very exciting time for U.S. Soccer."

GF Q4. What are your initial impressions of David Beckham's move to MLS? What does USSF have to do to ensure his stay has a long term positive impact on the growth of the game in the United States?

SG: "I think Beckham brings a tremendous amount of skill and leadership on the field, and certainly a huge measure of notoriety off the field. Those things are clearly beneficial and should exist throughout David's time with the Galaxy. The goal moving forward will be to ensure that the momentum created by his coming to play in MLS endures and continues to positively impact all aspects of the sport, whether that means other good players following in his footsteps, increased media attention, improvement on the field, etc."

GF Q5. You have been clear about the fact that the US is not bidding for the 2014 World Cup but is ready to assist FIFA if a host is needed at short notice. What are the biggest challenges facing Brazil in their bid? What does the US have to do to be ready to help FIFA and host 2014 if needed?

SG: "We have stated our intention to bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and that is our focus.  As we have done in the past, we are willing to assist FIFA in any way possible."

GF Q6. If Brazil does host the World Cup in 2014, the US will clearly bid for the following World Cup. What needs to happen to ensure the US is well positioned to win the bidding process?

SG: "In 1994, the United States put on what was then the most successful World Cup in history. Since then, we have gained a tremendous amount of experience, improved our facilities, and hosted two Women's World Cups. We have a proven track record, and we are very confident that we will put forth an extremely competitive bid."

GF Q7. Adu and Altidore lit up the U20 World Cup - what does that tell you about the future of US Soccer?

SG: "I thought the team showed a lot of promise and played some very good soccer. Everyone was disappointed that we didn't go farther in the tournament, but the performances against Brazil and Uruguay showed a lot. Overall, I think Thomas Rongen did a good job with the group. This tournament also highlights the success that we have had with the U-17 Residency Program. Sixteen players on the roster came through Bradenton, including some of the brightest stars in the tournament, players like Freddy Adu, Josmer Altidore, Michael Bradley and Danny Szetela. These are names that could be contributing to the national team programs for many years to come, which is a hallmark of the achievements of the program. We are very proud of that, and it is why we are so excited about the establishment of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. The pool is only going to get bigger."

GF Q8. What are the top 3 challenges facing you and USSF over the next 12 months?

SG: "It's not about lists and rankings. What we are doing is focusing on improving our programs across the board, increasing player development opportunities, growing our integration among all the cultures that make up the U.S. melting pot ... and winning games. Those goals don't change."

GF Q10. What are the biggest media challenges facing the sport in the US?

SG: "We have made solid progress in penetrating the media across all platforms, particularly in the television arena. ESPN has invested heavily in soccer, securing the rights to all of the FIFA World Cups through 2014 and paying a rights fee to both U.S. Soccer and MLS. That demonstrates a real commitment and belief in the sport, and we are hopeful that the exposure will help continue to push soccer into the mainstream. We still face the challenge of getting consistent coverage. There remains a segment of decision makers whose generation did not grow up with the sport and will choose not to cover it over what they would call traditional sports. With the changing demographics of the country and the emergence of people in positions of authority - editors, producers, columnists - who grew up with soccer, our coverage will only continue to grow. Soccer fans are very internet savvy, and we have been well ahead of the curve in the types of coverage and access that we provide through our website. As more Americans turn to the internet to get their news and information, we should be well positioned to capitalize on it."