CHICAGO (June 14, 2008) – In recognition of his guidance, perseverance and dedication in establishing the sport of soccer in the United States, former president of the U.S. Soccer Federation Werner Fricker will be honored during a ceremony on Sunday, June 15 before the U.S. Men’s National Team’s FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Barbados.

A memorial located at the northeast corner of Mooch Myernick Field at The Home Depot Center will be unveiled during the ceremony an hour before the match at 1 p.m. PT. U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati will unveil the bronze bust and present a commemorative plaque to Werner Fricker's children: Werner Fricker Jr., Marlene Fricker and Janet Malofiy (nee Fricker). The Werner family will also be presented at halftime of the U.S. Men's qualifying match against Barbados.

Werner Fricker, who passed away in 2001, served as President of the U.S. Soccer Federation from 1984 to 1990, during which time he led the successful bid to obtain the 1994 World Cup for the United States.

Fricker was born in Yugoslavia and raised in Austria, but emigrated to the United States with his family in 1952. He lived his adult life in Pennsylvania, where he was a star midfielder and captain for the United German Hungarians of Philadelphia soccer club from 1954 to 1969, leading the team to the National Amateur Cup in 1965. He was also a member of the 1964 U.S. Olympic Team.

Fricker served on the executive committee of CONCACAF and was chairman of the CONCACAF Finance Committee. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, N.Y., in 1992.