An election at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld saw eight candidates vying for the position in the first contested ballot since 1998.

Among those in the running were former men's national team players Eric Wynalda, Kyle Martino and Paul Caligiuri and ex-women's national team goalkeeper Hope Solo.

Boston-based lawyer Steve Gans and New Jersey attorney Michael Winograd also stood for the position.

It was clear, though, from the first ballot that the battle looked to be between Cordeiro and Soccer United Marketing President Kathy Carter.

Cordeiro, the US Soccer vice-president, received 36.3 per cent in the first round to head the field, with Carter a close second on 34.6.

Caligiuri withdrew from the process after the round after polling just 0.5 per cent.

The second ballot saw Cordeiro pull further clear by securing 41.8 per cent to Carter’s 33.3, with Wynalda a distant third on 10.8 per cent.

Gans and Winograd then withdrew.

It led to a third ballot where Cordeiro emerged as a clear winner on 68.6 per cent and Carter and Martino ending on 10.6 per cent in joint second.

Wynalda and Solo received 8.9 and 1.4 per cent respectively.

"Thank you to those of you who have supported me today," Cordeiro said.

"This is incredibly humbling.

"I want to thank all the candidates for a stirring campaign.

"To those of you who didn’t vote for me, I’m going to work to earn your support and trust over the next four years.

"I promise I will work for all of you to bring us together as one soccer community.

"Thank you very much."

Cordeiro takes up the position having previously served as the Federation’s first independent director since 2007 before becoming vice-president in 2016. 

He has been credited with working to reform governance with a focus on greater transparency and accountability.

Cordeiro has also previously served as treasurer, chair of the Budget Committee and Director of the U.S. Soccer Foundation.

The official also represents U.S. Soccer on the CONCACAF Council and FIFA’s Stakeholders Committee.

Cordeiro paid tribute to the outgoing Sunil Gulati, whom he replaces in the position, highlighting his "tireless service".

Gulati, a member of FIFA's ruling Council, was originally elected to the post of U.S. Soccer President in 2006 and ran unopposed in each of the last three elections.

He revealed at the beginning of December that his current term would be his last.

The 58-year-old had faced mounting pressure following the US men's shock failure to qualify for next year's World Cup in Russia.

Gulati was blamed in some circles within the sport in the country for America being unable to secure a spot at the 2018 tournament, the first not to feature the nation since 1986.

Cordeiro is expected to have a key role in the American bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a joint effort alongside Canada and Mexico.

U.S. Soccer have announced that the organisation has three options regarding the vice-president position vacated by Cordeiro.

They could choose to leave the position vacate until their AGM in 2019 or convene a special meeting to hold an election.

The third option would be to hold an election by post.