US Hedge Fund Manager Plays Key Role in Bid to Secure Host Rights for FIFA World Cup

Philanthropists Fund US Soccer's $264 Million Budget

In the summer of 2024, Scott Goodwin, co-founder of credit investment firm Diameter Capital Partners, sent a text to friends expressing his frustration with the US men's national soccer team's performance. The team had recently been eliminated from the Copa America tournament, and Goodwin felt that a new head coach was needed to prepare for the 2026 World Cup.

Goodwin's friends, including former USMNT players Kyle Martino and Alecko Eskandarian, and restaurateur Sean Feeney, were skeptical of his offer to donate funds to hire a new coach. However, Goodwin persisted, stating that he was serious about contributing to the team's success.

Less than three months later, US Soccer unveiled Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino as the new head coach, with Goodwin and billionaire Ken Griffin among the donors who helped fund his two-year contract. The contract, which is set to expire after this summer's World Cup, is worth around $20 million, including salaries for Pochettino and his staff, as well as a buyout for former head coach Gregg Berhalter.