(AP)
NEW YORK — No matter what happens Friday in the FIFA presidential election between four-term incumbent Sepp Blatter and sole challenger Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, 1999 World Cup hero Brandi Chastain just wants someone who will represent the women’s game right.
Speaking with For The Win about her partnership with Liberty Mutual, a new sponsor of the U.S. Soccer Federation, Chastain took the female perspective with regard to the ongoing election.
“Playing in the World Cup is a great opportunity and the players are incredibly grateful for having that, and whoever the president is at the end of the election won’t change that,” she said. “The Women’s World Cup is a stand alone, humongous event that showcases the best women’s soccer in the world. So as much as people are talking about the election, the soccer on the field is really what counts the most.
“We won’t let whoever it is interrupt that from happening and from the players inspiring young girls around the world.”
The women’s pool expanded from 16 to 24 teams this year and eight countries — Switzerland, Costa Rica, Cameroon, Ecuador, the Ivory Coast, the Netherlands, Spain and Thailand — are playing in their first World Cup.
“It’s reaching into corners that it never has before,” Chastain said. “For us, we want someone who is supportive, of course, of women’s soccer. But it won’t stop us no matter who’s in charge.”
Chastain doesn’t believe the election or the FIFA corruption scandal is a distraction from the World Cup, which begins on June 6 across six cities in Canada.
“No. In ’99 I’m sure there was something else happening in the world,” she said. “There are things that are happening in the world, of course, but these players, their focus is what they need to do on the field to be successful. And that’s really the only thing they’re concerning themselves with.
“More eyes on soccer and more eyes on women’s soccer.”
