U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker leaves for Saudi Arabia role

Matt Crocker, the U.S. Soccer sporting director, is leaving his position with immediate effect to take on a role with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, the federation announced Tuesday.

The 51-year-old Welsh official's departure comes less than two months before the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The USMNT's opening match is scheduled for June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, 58 days from the announcement.

In a statement, U.S. Soccer said Crocker was leaving to "pursue another opportunity in international soccer." Crocker said in his own statement: "It has been a privilege to be part of U.S. Soccer during such an important period for the sport in this country. I'm grateful for the people I've had the opportunity to work with across the Federation, from our coaches and players to our technical and administrative staff. I'm proud of what's been built together and confident the team in place will continue to move the game forward and drive success on and off the field."

Crocker's exit follows recent friendly matches against Belgium and Portugal, which were among the USMNT's final warmup games before the World Cup. The timing of his departure has drawn attention given its proximity to the tournament.

The Welsh official previously worked at the English Football Association before joining U.S. Soccer. The Athletic approached both U.S. Soccer and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation for additional comment.