Election 2020

Matt was a member of the U-23 MNT on several occasions and is a member of the Philadelphia Union in the MLS. He attended Harvard University for 2 years before opting to turn pro. He would be able to represent the homegrown and young male athletes in the system if elected.

Being a member of the AC I’ve the last few years has been an honor and privilege.  Being part of the growth of US soccer and seeing the impact that the AC has on US soccer community is something I have enjoyed and know that role will only grow.  As someone that has been very fortunate to be part of the national team for some time and see the growth first hand, I would thoroughly enjoy continuing in the position of an AC member.  It’s important that players have their voices heard and being involved in the AC allows not only that, but also a unique perspective in growing the sport of soccer in this country.   

  Smith Hunter has represented US Soccer from the U-16 to the U-20 Women's National Team levels. In 2018, she participated in both the U-17 Concacaf World Cup Qualifiers in Nicaragua and the U-17 World Cup in Uruguay. As a young woman of color from a lower income background, she hopes to give a voice to youth footballers with similar backgrounds directly within the Federation. Hunter is truly devoted to working in partnership with US Soccer to face challenges with the systematic financial barriers that many players face within the youth system. She is also passionate about ensuring that every level of the Federation has adequate representation of women and minorities, as well as increasing new opportunities to join US Soccer through the expansion of the Extended National Team programs.

Seth has been an elected member of the USOPC since January of 2017. He captained the US National 7-aside Football team in the Rio 2016 Games and led the team in total points, and captained the team in the 2019 Lima Games to the first ever medal in their sport. He is a decorated 11 year Army veteran (seven years in the Special Forces) and 3x OEF/OIF Wounded Warrior. He served in the US Government as a Counterintelligence Special Agent, as well as an interrogator. He served as a law enforcement officer in Florida for four years (three in SWAT). He has served in Africa for three years as a team leader in an Anti-Poaching Unit. He was also on staff with the 2019 World Cup winning US Women's National Team (soccer). Seth currently serves as an undercover counter-child sex trafficking operative in Central and South America. He has competed in two World Cups, two Parapan Am Games, two World Championships, and one Paralympic Games. He is also an Olympic taekwondo hopeful for the upcoming games.

Mikey López represented the U.S. Soccer from the U-15 to the U-20 Men's National Team levels. In 2013, he was a part of the CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers in Mexico and was named to the U-20 World Cup in Turkey. As a first generation Mexican American that comes from a lower income background, he is able to bring a different perspective to the council and hopes to give young footballers of the same background a voice and representation within the federation. Mikey is truly devoted to working in partnership with U.S. soccer to face the many financial challenges that many young athletes face within our youth system. Mikey is also passionate about ensuring that every level of the federation has adequate representation of minorities, as well as increasing new opportunities to join U.S. Soccer through the expansion of the Extended National Team programs.

Nicholas Mayhugh, the 2019 US Soccer Player of the Year with a Disability award winner, is a current member of the US Para 7-a-side National Team and has represented the team for the last three years. As a disabled athlete who is seen as a minority within the sport world, he is running for the Athletes Council to help advocate for representation, exposure and support for the ENT, to promote diversity and inclusion within the USSF at all levels of the game and to help dismantle the existing financial and structural barriers in the current pay to play model.

  My name is Michael Moore and I played for the US Paralympic National Team from 2014-2016, helping the team qualify for Rio 2016.
 

I was born with cerebral palsy, and playing soccer while growing up helped my social skills immeasurably. I gave up the sport when I was in middle school, thinking there was no place for me to play competitively. I didn't learn I could play soccer internationally until I was 19, when the USPNT gave me a second chance to pursue my passion. Today, I am excited by the grassroots work beginning in the world of CP soccer and am committed to ensuring that boys and girls like me know there is a pathway for them to live out their dreams of representing the United States.
 

After retiring from the PNT, I went to law school. I graduated this past May and have begun my career in the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. I believe my legal education will be an asset to the council when considering US Soccer's prospective rules and policies. I went to law school passionate about issues of justice and equity, and I want to help make sure that US Soccer supports the game for all people regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status.
 

If elected, I promise to be a strong advocate for making this game accessible to all.

Pinto, the 2019 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year, is a current member of the U-20 Women's National Team. She has represented every level of the YNT, including a U-17 and U-20 World Cup, and has had a few experiences with the Senior WNT. She was also the US youth representative at the 68th FIFA Congress and helped secure the United Bid hosting rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As a young player, she is looking to work with the USSF and is running for the Athlete Council to help advocate for the needs of YNT players, to promote diversity and inclusion, and to help dismantle the existing financial and structural barriers in the pay-to-play model.

I have served on the AC for the last 4 years and we all are making progress, and would like to represent US Soccer for the next 4 years. I have served in the military for 6 years and played on the USPNT for 7 years because of my disability from being deployed. While playing I have been given the opportunity to play in 2 paralympic games. Now i serve as a Police officer. I would like to continue my service to the athletes of US Soccer.