Los Angeles: United States Soccer Federation chief Sunil Gulati said on Monday he will not seek re-election next year as the fallout from the USA’s failure to qualify for the World Cup claimed another victim.

Gulati told ESPN in an interview that he had decided not to enter the battle for the presidency of the USSF, which has seen several candidates enter the running.

“I think the best thing for me personally, and for the federation, is to see someone new in the job.”

Football in the US is still reeling from the country’s shock World Cup qualifying exit, when Bruce Arena’s side lost to Trinidad and Tobago in their final game to miss out on Russia 2018. Arena quit immediately after the World Cup failure.

Gulati indicated that the World Cup debacle had influenced his decision to step aside.

“The loss to Trinidad was painful, regrettable and led to a lot of strong emotions. And to be honest, I think at this point, that’s overshadowed a lot of other things that are important. So fair or not, I accept that and think it’s time for a new person,” Gulati said.

Gulati, an economist who remains a member of the FIFA council, is also the chairman of the joint USA/Canada/Mexico bid for the 2026 World Cup.

Gulati told ESPN he planned to continue in that role.

FIFA will award the World Cup at a June 13 vote.

Agence France-Presse