Matt Crocker’s decision to quit his role as U.S. Soccer’s sporting director with less than two months to go until the 2026 World Cup is an unwelcome distraction for the federation.
Crocker is reportedly taking up a similar role with the Saudi Arabia football federation – a move which is undoubtedly a blow to the reputation of soccer in the U.S. The Welshman had previously been praised for his work in player development during spells as technical director with Southampton and England.
His exit comes at a time when the U.S. should be focusing exclusively on co-hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico this summer. He leaves his role with the jury still out on the two high-profile managerial appointments he made for the men’s and women’s national teams.
Crocker leaves Pochettino and Hayes hanging
When Crocker was appointed by U.S. Soccer in April 2023, he was handed an expansive brief to improve the U.S. national teams at all levels.
The men’s and women’s senior teams were his primary responsibility, and it would be fair to say that he did not get off to a promising start. His decision to rehire Gregg Berhalter for the men’s team backfired spectacularly as they were eliminated in the group stage at the 2024 Copa America. The women’s team also gave Crocker cause for concern by crashing out of the 2023 World Cup following a penalty shoot-out defeat against Sweden in the round of 16.
In fairness to Crocker, he addressed both situations by hiring managers with a proven track record of success in men’s and women’s football in Europe. Emma Hayes was the first to jump on the U.S. bandwagon after agreeing a deal to become the world’s highest-paid women’s soccer coach in November 2023.
Crocker made another eye-catching appointment the following September when he secured the services of former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino for the men’s team.
Both managers were tasked with guiding the U.S. to their respective World Cups, but Crocker has not stuck around to see whether his appointments will be successful. Having shown faith in the vision they were sold by Crocker, Pochettino and Hayes may feel that he has hung them out to dry by jumping ship.
World Cups will determine whether Crocker made the right moves
The wisdom of Crocker’s decision to splash the cash on Pochettino and Hayes will undoubtedly be determined by how the U.S. teams perform at upcoming World Cup tournaments.
Pochettino’s record of 14 victories and one draw in 24 matches is relatively respectable, although digging deeper reveals a more concerning picture.
Having guided the U.S. to a five-game unbeaten run, Pochettino went into the recent international break believing that he had the U.S. heading in the right direction. However, defeats in friendlies against Belgium and Portugal highlighted flaws in his tactical set-up that could be brutally exposed this summer.
While the U.S. are the bookmakers’ favourites to top their group, it would be a brave move to back them to achieve the feat. Turkey, Paraguay, and Australia all have the ability to cause problems for the USMNT, and there is no guarantee they will progress to the round of 32.
By contrast, Hayes appears to have the women’s team in a good place, although it is still too early to determine whether she will be a successful appointment. Winning the gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games was a solid start, but the U.S. will face much tougher tests when they participate in the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The exploits of the men’s and women’s teams in their respective tournaments will provide a clearer picture of whether Crocker made the right managerial calls.
Money talks in major sporting circles
The U.S. is currently ranked 16th in the world, while Saudi Arabia is 61st. Major League Soccer is a sustainable domestic competition, while the Saudi Pro League is artificially propped up by oil money.
Crocker had been supported financially by U.S. Soccer, as evidenced by the high-profile managerial appointments and the construction of a $250 million national training center. However, having been given a free hand to develop elements such as pathways, player development, and infrastructure, Crocker has jumped ship.
Although his efforts over the past three years may ultimately pay dividends, ditching an ambitious project in favour of heading to a footballing backwater is a bitter blow for the U.S. to take. If the U.S. is unable to retain a key individual in the run-up to hosting a major tournament, what does that say about their long-term prospects on the global stage?
Crocker’s exit has potentially cranked up the pressure on Pochettino and Hayes during a period when they needed stability. The next 15 months will tell us how much damage his decision has caused.
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