U.S. Soccer executive vice president Sunil Gulati, who has been involved with the U.S. national team program since 1986, talked to SoccerAmerica.com about the importance of the USA’s qualification for the 2002 World Cup. INTERVIEW BY MIKE WOITALLA SA: How much did you think about the implications of the USA not qualifying? SUNIL GULATI: I was thinking of a conversation in 1989 between Werner Fricker [then Federation president], Arthur Walls [then national team director] and myself that took place the night before the Trinidad game [the last qualifier for Italia ’90]. Arthur said, “Even if we lose tomorrow, the sun will shine on Monday.” Werner’s response was, “Yeah, but it will shine a lot brighter if we win.” I think that’s the way to look at it. Given what’s happening in the world right now, everything is put into perspective. But in terms of our own program, being a part of the elite group that’s qualified for the World Cup is a big plus. We’re going to have setbacks along the way, obviously, as we continue to grow the sport. But to show progress and some continuity is very important. The biggest single sign of that is qualifying for the World Cup continuously. SA: Getting it done with a game to spare must have been a big relief … SG: Trinidad’s win in Honduras demonstrates just how challenging it would have been to clinch in the last game [the USA plays its final Hexagonal game Nov. 11 in Port of Spain]. Trinidad hasn’t given up. They’re serious. SA: Qualifying has a big impact on the development of players, because it gives players like Landon Donovan a chance to go to the World Cup … SG: It gets us a period of activity. If we don’t qualify for the World Cup we’ve got a long period before you can really focus on the national team and player development and so on. This keeps us on the forefront of that. It keeps players like Landon and, frankly, the next generation of those players, interested and involved because the sport is still in the forefront. SA: The impact on MLS? SG: It’s a big plus. So many of the players have been involved in the league. It keeps the sport in the sports pages and on television. The cooperation between MLS and the national team has been great. It’s very important for soccer in general. SA: Even sports editors who aren’t friendly to soccer have to pay attention to the World Cup … SG: That’s right. They can’t ignore it. SA: How does qualifying affect the business side, sponsorships? SG: Everybody’s job on that end is easier on Monday morning than it was on Sunday morning. It’s much easier to approach the commercial community than if we hadn’t qualified. There’s always a number of short-term opportunities that come in and around the World Cup, but also in terms of the partners we’ve had for awhile, new ones that we’re looking at, that are looking at us, it makes it a lot easier.