The sporting director who hired Pochettino and Hayes leaves the federation without permanent leadership for their most important tournament ever
US Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker is leaving for Saudi Arabia just two months before the 2026 World Cup, creating a leadership vacuum at the worst possible moment for American football. The Guardian confirmed that Crocker will take up a similar role with the Saudi Arabia football federation, abandoning the project he helped build.
The timing could not be more catastrophic. With the United States co-hosting its first World Cup since 1994, Crocker's departure leaves the federation scrambling to divide his responsibilities among four different executives, including COO Dan Helfrich and assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu.
Crocker's exit represents more than just a personnel change. As sporting director since 2023, he wielded wide-ranging control over all US national teams, from youth development to senior squad management. His departure strips away the centralised leadership structure just as the USMNT enters its most crucial period.
US Soccer's solution reveals the depth of the problem. Rather than appointing a successor, the federation will split Crocker's duties among:
This committee approach to managing a World Cup on home soil suggests US Soccer was caught completely off-guard by Crocker's decision.
Crocker's tenure included both triumphs and disasters. He hired Emma Hayes, who delivered Olympic gold in 2024. But he also rehired Gregg Berhalter using what the federation called "advanced data analytics" and "cutting-edge hiring methods", only to watch the USMNT crash out at the group stage of the 2024 Copa América.
It has been a privilege to be part of US Soccer during such an important period for the sport in this country
Crocker's parting words ring hollow given his decision to leave before that "important period" reaches its climax.
The destination matters as much as the timing. Saudi Arabia's aggressive recruitment of Crocker exposes uncomfortable truths about US Soccer's position in global football's new hierarchy.
Saudi Arabia's national team setup is undergoing its own upheaval, with head coach Hervé Renard reportedly departing and technical director Nasser Larguet expected to step down. They need experienced leadership, and they clearly offered Crocker something US Soccer could not or would not match.
This fits Saudi Arabia's broader strategy of football investment. From buying Newcastle United to luring Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar to their domestic league, the kingdom has demonstrated its willingness to outspend traditional football powers. Now they're targeting the administrators who build successful programmes.
For US Soccer, losing their sporting director to a direct World Cup competitor represents a stunning failure. The federation that once attracted top European coaches like Jürgen Klinsmann now watches helplessly as Saudi money poaches their key executives.
CEO JT Batson's statement offered platitudes about being "well positioned" for the future, but actions speak louder than corporate PR. When your sporting director jumps ship months before hosting a World Cup, it suggests fundamental problems with compensation, ambition, or both.
Mauricio Pochettino arrived as Crocker's marquee signing, the Argentine tasked with leading the US to its "best-ever World Cup finish" on home soil. Now the man who convinced him to take the job is heading to Riyadh.
In 16 games under Pochettino, the USMNT has won 10, drawn once, and lost seven. The most recent results, losses to Belgium and Portugal in March friendlies, raised questions about progress. Without Crocker's backing and vision, those questions will only intensify.
The relationship between a sporting director and head coach requires trust and shared vision. Pochettino must now wonder about the federation's commitment to the project they sold him. Will the committee running things maintain his support? Will they understand his methods and needs?
The temporary leadership structure creates potential for competing agendas. Helfrich brings a business operations background. Onyewu offers a former player's perspective. Kevins focuses on women's youth development. None share Crocker's specific vision for the men's programme that convinced Pochettino to leave European club football.
History shows that major tournaments expose organisational weaknesses. The USMNT cannot afford mixed messages or bureaucratic delays when facing elite competition. Yet that's exactly what this leadership structure invites.
US Soccer faces an immediate choice: rush to find a permanent replacement who can provide stability, or muddle through with the committee approach and risk undermining their World Cup preparations. Either path carries significant risks.
For Pochettino and the USMNT players, the next two months become even more crucial. They must build momentum and cohesion without the executive who championed their project. The 2026 World Cup was supposed to showcase American soccer's arrival as a global force. Instead, it might expose how far they still have to go.
When is Matt Crocker leaving US Soccer?
Matt Crocker is departing immediately, just two months before the 2026 World Cup begins in June. US Soccer announced his exit on Tuesday, with his responsibilities being divided among four different executives including COO Dan Helfrich and assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu.
Why is Crocker joining Saudi Arabia?
While specific financial details haven't been disclosed, Crocker is taking a similar sporting director role with the Saudi Arabia football federation. This move aligns with Saudi Arabia's aggressive investment in football infrastructure and talent as they prepare for their own World Cup appearance and potential 2034 hosting bid.
Will Mauricio Pochettino stay as USMNT coach?
Pochettino remains under contract as USMNT head coach, but Crocker's departure removes his biggest advocate within US Soccer. The Argentine has won 10 of 16 games since taking charge, though recent losses to Belgium and Portugal have raised concerns about the team's World Cup readiness.
Who will replace Matt Crocker at US Soccer?
US Soccer has not named a permanent replacement for Crocker. Instead, his duties will be shared between chief operating officer Dan Helfrich, assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, women's youth head Tracey Kevins, and other leadership team members until a long-term solution is found.
What did Matt Crocker achieve at US Soccer?
Crocker's major accomplishments include hiring Emma Hayes, who led the USWNT to Olympic gold in 2024, and bringing in Mauricio Pochettino as USMNT coach. However, he also rehired Gregg Berhalter, whose second tenure ended with a group-stage exit at the 2024 Copa América.
How does this affect US Soccer's World Cup preparations?
Crocker's departure creates significant instability just two months before the tournament. The temporary committee structure could lead to competing visions and delayed decision-making at a critical time when the USMNT needs clear leadership and support.
Is Saudi Arabia building a stronger football programme than the US?
Saudi Arabia's ability to lure Crocker away suggests they're offering superior financial packages and long-term vision. Combined with their domestic league signings and infrastructure investments, they're positioning themselves as a major player in global football development.
When does the USMNT play in the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 World Cup begins in June, with the United States automatically qualifying as co-hosts alongside Canada and Mexico. The USMNT's specific group stage matches and opponents will be determined after the final qualification rounds and tournament draw.
SportSignals is an independent publication. Views expressed are our own.
Matt Crocker is leaving US Soccer to take a similar sporting director role with the Saudi Arabia football federation. The timing, just two months before the 2026 World Cup, has created a leadership crisis for US Soccer.
US Soccer will not appoint a direct replacement. Instead, Crocker's responsibilities will be divided among four executives including COO Dan Helfrich, assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, and Tracey Kevins.
Crocker hired Emma Hayes who delivered Olympic gold in 2024 and Mauricio Pochettino as USMNT coach. However, he also rehired Gregg Berhalter, whose team crashed out of the 2024 Copa América group stage.
Crocker's exit creates a leadership vacuum at a critical time, as the US co-hosts its first World Cup since 1994. His wide-ranging control over all national teams will now be managed by committee rather than centralized leadership.
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