In a significant shakeup for US Soccer, sporting director Matt Crocker is departing his post with less than two months remaining until the 2026 World Cup kicks off on home soil. The federation confirmed the news Tuesday, with reports indicating Crocker is set to take on a similar high-profile role with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, a nation making aggressive investments in global football.

Crocker's wide-ranging duties, which included oversight of all US national teams and the crucial task of hiring senior managers, will now be distributed among a leadership committee. This group includes chief operating officer Dan Helfrich, assistant sporting director and former USMNT defender Oguchi Onyewu, and women’s youth national team head of development Tracy Kevins.

US Soccer CEO JT Batson acknowledged Crocker's contributions in a statement, saying, "Matt helped guide important steps across our sporting organization... We're well positioned to make the decisions needed in the short, medium, and long term." The timing, however, adds pressure as the program builds towards its most important tournament in a generation.

Hired in 2023 after a respected stint in English football, Crocker was tasked with modernizing the US Soccer structure. His tenure was notably marked by the high-profile re-hiring of Gregg Berhalter as USMNT head coach, a decision that followed a complex and public review process. With Crocker's exit, the federation's sporting leadership enters a critical phase, needing to ensure stability and clarity as the 2026 World Cup horizon draws near.