From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center:

USA BID COMMITTEE RECEIVES $100,000 DONATION FROM CAL SOUTH
TO SUPPORT U.S. BID FOR FIFA WORLD CUP™ IN 2018 OR 2022

USA Bid Committee Launches Online Fundraising Campaign at goUSAbid.com

NEW YORK (August 18, 2009) - The USA Bid Committee today announced a donation commitment of $100,000 from Cal South, the state soccer association for both youth and adult soccer in Southern California, toward the effort to bring the FIFA World Cup™ to the United States in 2018 or 2022. The donation from Cal South is the largest received by the USA Bid Committee to date and is an example of the type of grassroots support that will be used to fund the bid efforts going forward.

"We want to thank Cal South for affirming their early support of the USA Bid," said Sunil Gulati, the Chairman of the USA Bid Committee and President of U.S. Soccer. "Our bid is an investment, in every sense of the word, to pave the road for the next decade of the development of soccer in the United States. Cal South's support further exemplifies the leadership role that this organization has taken in all areas of promoting and developing the sport in the United States."

Cal South is an industry leader in soccer both on and off the field. Cal South teams have captured 28 youth soccer national championships this decade. The high level of play throughout their leagues has produced more than 30 percent of U.S. Men's and Women's National Team members. Cal South's State and National Cup are the two largest and most prestigious youth soccer tournaments in Southern California featuring more than 2,000 teams. Off the field, Cal South is engaged in several urban outreach initiatives throughout Los Angeles and runs the annual Soccer Nation Expo, the largest free soccer family expo in the United States, held each year at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

"We believe that this is an investment in the future of soccer in Southern California and the United States that can be best achieved by bringing the excitement, worldwide attention, and pride that comes with hosting the games," said Gregg Falk, President of Cal South.

The donation commitment by Cal South is the largest received by the USA Bid Committee to date after last week's launch of goUSAbid.com. The Web site was designed to serve as the nerve center for fundraising and all USA Bid Committee initiatives and communication leading up to FIFA's announcement in December 2010 of the host countries for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup.

"We want to thank Cal South for their initiative to support the USA Bid with their donation," said David Downs, the Executive Director of the USA Bid Committee. "Donations such as these will allow us the resources to successfully compete for the privilege of hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022 without having to tap into the funds that have been set aside to support the other aspects of the growth of soccer in the U.S."

"The opportunity to host another World Cup and the inherent boost the game would receive at all levels made this an easy decision for us," said John Weinerth, Chief Executive Officer of Cal South. "Our job is to grow the game at the grassroots level, and the potential to host the world's biggest event in Southern California again is well supported by our 180,000 players, coaches, referees and administrators."

ABOUT THE USA BID COMMITTEE INC.:
The USA Bid Committee is a non-profit organization created to prepare a successful application to host the FIFA World Cup™ in 2018 or 2022 on behalf of the United States Soccer Federation. The Bid Committee will submit its comprehensive bid to FIFA by May 2010, with FIFA's 24 member Executive Committee making a decision in December 2010. Members of the USA Bid Committee in alphabetical order include Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy owner Philip Anschutz, former Goldman Sachs Vice Chairman (Asia) Carlos Cordeiro, U.S. Men's National Team player Landon Donovan, Executive Director David Downs, U.S. Soccer CEO and General Secretary Dan Flynn, U.S. Soccer Foundation President Ed Foster-Simeon, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber, U.S. Soccer President and USA Bid Committee Chairman Sunil Gulati, U.S. Women's National Team former player Mia Hamm, former U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger, New England Revolution and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, University of Miami President Donna Shalala and Univision CEO Joe Uva. For more information on the USA Bid, visit www.goUSAbid.com.

ABOUT CAL SOUTH:
The California State Soccer Association - South (Cal South) is a 501c(3) California public benefit corporation and is an official youth and adult state soccer association of the United States Soccer Federation and United States Youth Soccer. Cal South represents 230 member leagues and clubs comprising a membership of more than 180,000 registered players, coaches, referees and league administrators. The organization, with a service area that extends from San Luis Obispo to San Diego, provides rewarding recreational and competitive opportunities for players of all ages, genders and skill levels. For more information about Cal South, visit www.calsouth.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Neil Buethe, U.S. Soccer, 312/528-1270, nbuethe@ussoccer.org
Jurgen Mainka, USA Bid Committee, 212/450-1403,jmainka@usabidcommittee.org
Jim Woodcock, Fleishman-Hillard, 314/982-7778, jim.woodcock@fleishman.com

- ussoccer.com -

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