US Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker to Leave Ahead of 2026 World Cup, Joins Saudi Arabia Football Federation
In a significant development just weeks before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, US Soccer announced on Tuesday that its sporting director Matt Crocker will be stepping down from his role. This change comes less than two months before the United States is set to co-host the tournament. The Guardian has confirmed earlier reports from Fox Sports that Crocker will be taking up a similar position with the Saudi Arabia football federation.
Matt Crocker's departure marks a notable shift in US Soccer's leadership structure. To manage the transition, the federation revealed that Crocker's sporting director duties will be divided among several key figures within the organization. These include chief operating officer Dan Helfrich, assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, women's youth national team head of development Tracey Kevins, alongside the broader sporting leadership team. US Soccer CEO JT Batson expressed gratitude for Crocker's contributions, acknowledging his role in guiding significant steps within the sporting organization. Batson also emphasized the federation's ongoing efforts to build a strong structure for both the short and long-term future.
Crocker joined US Soccer in 2023, stepping into the role following the departure of Earnie Stewart, who left to become sporting director at Dutch club PSV Eindhoven. Crocker brought with him an extensive background in English football, where he was highly regarded for his work in player development. His career highlights include serving as technical director at Southampton and then holding a pivotal role with the England national team from 2013 to 2020. During his time with England, Crocker was credited with modernizing the national team's playing style, an achievement that bolstered his reputation internationally.
As sporting director at US Soccer, Crocker had broad oversight of all national teams, including youth programs for both men and women. However, his most visible responsibilities involved hiring managers for the senior men's and women's national teams. His tenure saw two major managerial appointments on the men's side and one on the women's side.
One of Crocker's earliest and most controversial decisions was to rehire Gregg Berhalter as head coach of the US Men's National Team (USMNT). Berhalter's contract had previously expired, and his status became mired in controversy due to a complicated situation involving player Gio Reyna and his family, as well as resurfaced domestic violence allegations involving Berhalter and his wife from many years prior. The federation conducted a global search for a new coach but ultimately decided to bring Berhalter back, citing the use of "advanced data analytics, sophisticated metrics, and cutting-edge hiring methods" in their decision-making process.
Berhalter's second stint as USMNT coach ended in disappointment, with the team failing to advance beyond the group stage of the 2024 Copa América. Following this, Crocker made a high-profile appointment by hiring Mauricio Pochettino as Berhalter's replacement at the end of 2024. Pochettino's task was to lead the US to their best-ever finish at the World Cup, which the country is co-hosting later this year. Under Pochettino's leadership, the USMNT played 16 matches, winning 10, drawing one, and losing five. However, recent friendlies in March against Belgium and Portugal resulted in losses, raising questions about the team's readiness for the upcoming tournament.
On the women's side, Crocker made a significant and widely praised hire by bringing Emma Hayes from Chelsea to take over as head coach of the US Women's National Team (USWNT) at the end of 2023. Hayes replaced Vlatko Andonovski, who resigned following a disappointing performance by the USWNT at the 2023 Women's World Cup. Since her appointment, Hayes has led the USWNT to Olympic gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics, revitalizing the team and setting a strong foundation as they prepare for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil.
Reflecting on his time with US Soccer, Crocker described it as a privilege to be part of such a pivotal period for the sport in the United States. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with a wide range of individuals within the federation, from coaches and players to technical and administrative staff.
Crocker's move to the Saudi Arabia football federation comes amid a period of upheaval in the Saudi national team's setup ahead of their World Cup appearance this summer. There have been reports that head coach Hervé Renard will not continue in his role, and technical director Nasser Larguet, who has held the position since 2022, is also expected to step down. Crocker's arrival is seen as part of a broader restructuring of Saudi football leadership as the nation looks to improve its performance on the global stage.
This transition leaves US Soccer facing the challenge of maintaining stability and momentum in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup. By distributing Crocker's responsibilities across several leaders within the organization, US Soccer aims to ensure continuity while searching for a permanent replacement. The federation remains focused on leveraging its existing strengths and continuing its strategic development of both men's and women's national teams as they prepare for a critical period in American soccer history.