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The U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) announced Tuesday the sudden exit of sporting director Matt Crocker, who is leaving to "pursue another opportunity in international soccer," sending shockwaves through the American soccer community given how close the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil is approaching.
Crocker had joined USSF only recently in 2023 and appeared to be a long-term appointment, charged with "setting the Federation's sporting vision and performance strategy" as part of its ongoing ambition to grow and elevate the game over time.
As if the 51-year-old Welshman's exit just before the country's biggest-ever soccer moment wasn't jarring enough, Crocker is reportedly heading to a comparable role within the Saudi Arabian Football Federation — now representing one of the 48 nations set to compete against the U.S. this summer.
USMNT icons Alexi Lalas and Landon Donovan were quick to voice their thoughts on Crocker's ill-timed departure.
Donovan, Lalas Give Blunt Response
Donovan, who shares the USMNT's all-time leading scorer record with Clint Dempsey (57 goals), actually responded to the news of Crocker's exit with a sense of relief, though tinged with bitterness.
"My first reaction is, if he doesn't want to be here, we don't want him," Donovan said Tuesday via Instagram. "I always had the feeling he wasn't fully invested here and didn't truly care about soccer in this country."
The three-time World Cup participant (2002, 2006, 2010) continued: "If he doesn't want to be here, we should be glad he's gone. I'm actually relieved to get someone in that role who genuinely cares about growing the sport and isn't just chasing their next paycheck. Good riddance ... We wish you well, but we don't want you involved in what we're trying to build here. That's all."
Lalas, a prominent figure in the 1994 World Cup — the last time the U.S. hosted the men's tournament — directed his response more toward what this means for the Federation's image.
"It's strange and a bad look, not just for the Federation but at a moment when soccer simply cannot afford these kinds of bad looks," Lalas said on X. "This is the person who was supposed to lead and shape what happens on the field this summer, and he won't be there. Not only will he be absent, he's apparently going to be aligned with a competing team in the World Cup. It just feels very strange."
USSF has moved to maintain internal stability following Crocker's departure, with chief operating officer Dan Helfrich, assistant sporting director Oguchi "Gooch" Onyewu, and women's youth national team development head Tracey Kevins stepping in to cover his duties. Furthermore, World Cup preparations, having "been long established," will "not see any adjustments as a result of this transition."