The US Soccer governing body has announced the appointment of a new chief operating officer (COO) in the form of veteran Deloitte Consulting executive Dan Helfrich.
Helfrich will retire from his role as Deloitte Consulting chair and chief executive in December, in order to join US Soccer on January 1.
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In this newly created role, Helfrich will be based out of US Soccer’s Atlanta base, with a focus on “optimizing business processes and executing key strategic initiatives” with the aim of driving growth.
He will report to the organization's chief executive and general secretary, JT Batson.
On the appointment, Batson said: “US Soccer has more than doubled in the last few years – and we know there is more work to do to reach our ambitious goals.
“Dan brings a rare combination of deep operational expertise, curiosity, and a lifelong passion for the game. His leadership and commitment to excellence will help us move faster, work smarter, and continue building the foundation for soccer’s next chapter in the US”
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By GlobalDataHelfrich has served close to 28 years at Deloitte, beginning in 1998, before taking leading role in sectors such as human capital, strategy and transformation, and government and public services, over his varied career at the firm.
Outside of that, he also advises a number of soccer-based nonprofits such as Grassroots Soccer, Street Soccer USA, and the Positive Coaching Alliance.
Helfrich commented: “Soccer has been a defining part of my life for more than 40 years, as a player, fan, broadcaster, volunteer, and parent… and now is the right time for me to focus my career here during this pivotal time for the sport in our country.
“I’m inspired by US Soccer’s mission and excited to partner with JT, our staff, and our members to strengthen the game and ensure soccer is accessible to everyone, everywhere, for generations to come. This means delivering results on the field through our 27 national teams while also making sure every player, coach, referee, and fan, feels a deep connection to US Soccer and their role in achieving our shared mission.”
Helfrich joins ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the US will jointly host alongside Canada and Mexico, and which is expected to be a pivotal event in terms of the growth of soccer in that country.
In the lead-up, the body has been bolstering its commercial portfolio, leading to a number of major new tie-ups, resulting in the body securing a 37% year-on-year revenue increase during the 2025 financial year.
In its recently published annual financial report, the federation revealed it has generated $263.7 million worth of income in 2025, the highest such figure in eight years.
Commercially, the US Soccer sponsorship income rose by 19% YoY, to $121.1 million, as deals were struck with brands such as Bank of America, Henkel, The Home Depot, and Jim Beam.
The earnings from the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be disclosed in the annual report for the 2027 financial year, while next year's report will include new sponsorship tie-ups with brands including the likes of Kellanova, American Airlines, and Chobani.
