U.S. Soccer Celebrates 100 Years U.S. Soccer is coming home - to New York - to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding on April 5, 1913. First as the United States of America Football Association, then the United States Soccer Football Association and the United States Soccer Federation, and now as U.S. Soccer, the sport's national governing body got its start at the Astor House Hotel, which once stood on Broadway between Vesey and Barclay streets in Lower Manhattan. At one time, the U.S.S.F. had offices in the Empire State Building (where, a few years ago, a young soccer fan knocked on the door and was met by the federation's genial General Secretary Kurt Lamm, who handed out patches and assorted tchotchkes) but now calls the more centrally located Chicago home. The U.S. Soccer Centennial Week (with additional information on Twitter, @ussoccer, hashtag #100Years) begins Tuesday and runs through Friday with a roster of activities in Manhattan, which includes the participation of the federation president, Sunil Gulati; the men's national team coach, Jurgen Klinsmann; and the current and former players Carli Lloyd, Alexi Lalas, Cobi Jones, Michelle Akers, April Heinrichs, Walter Bar, Tab Ramos, John Harkes and others. "The Centennial has allowed us to share stories about people, events and moments that have truly contributed to U.S. Soccer's success through these first 100 years," Gulati said in a statement. Celebrating in New York City - where 100 years ago a group of visionaries came together to pave the way for soccer in the United States - is truly merging our past with the present, while demonstrating a 100 percent commitment to the future of the game and our organization in the U.S. We hope that our membership, fans and supporters take a moment during the week to reflect on the first 100 years of U.S. Soccer and imagine all the things we can accomplish in the next 100 years. ¶ On Tuesday Gulati, Klinsmann and Lloyd are scheduled to ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. ¶ On Wednesday the federation and the National Soccer Hall of Fame (which, at the moment, does not have a physical presence) will announce this year's induction class in the player, veteran and builder categories. ¶ On Thursday federation officials and players will attend a fan festival in Times Square (at the Fence Island space on Broadway and Seventh Avenue, between West 45th and 46th streets). Part of the program will include games on a small-sided field, the opportunity to take pictures with the 1991 and 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup trophies, and more. ¶ On Friday U.S. Soccer and the office of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will host a news conference at City Hall at 8 a.m. Later, federation officials will participate in the lighting of the Empire State Building, in red, white and blue. Finally, U.S. Soccer will host a viewing party at Nevada Smiths sports bar (125 East 11th Street), at 12:15 p.m., when the women's national team plays at Germany (the match is available on ESPN3.com). Notes The men's national team has two exhibitions on its schedule leading up to its three World Cup qualifying matches (at Jamaica, vs. Panama in Seattle and Honduras in Salt Lake City) in June. The United States will play Belgium in Cleveland on May 29 and Germany in Washington on June 2 in its centennial game. ... The women's national team has three games scheduled outside the country: at Germany on Friday, at the Netherlands on Tuesday and against Canada in Toronto on June 2. ... The men's under-17 national team is seeking a berth in the FIFA U-17 World Cup later this year in United Arab Emirates as it begins regional qualifying against Haiti on Sunday in Panama. Guatemala is also in the first-round group. ... In case you missed it, the U.S. under-20 men's team was drawn into a difficult first-round group for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey June 21-July 13. Group A includes the U.S., Spain, France and Ghana. What do you think some of the federation's notable achievements have been over 100 years? Can the men's national team win the World Cup in the next 10 years? Twenty-five years? Fifty years? One hundred years? Follow Jack Bell on Twitter.