US Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker leaves for role with Saudi Arabia

• Crocker hired Emma Hayes and Mauricio Pochettino

• Sporting director duties to be split in the meantime

US Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker is leaving his post with less than two months to go until the 2026 World Cup, US Soccer announced on Tuesday. The Guardian can also confirm Fox Sports’ earlier reporting that Crocker is taking up a similar role with the Saudi Arabia football federation.

US Soccer said Crocker’s duties going forward will be shared by chief operating officer Dan Helfrich, assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, women’s youth national team head of development Tracey Kevins, and “the broader sporting leadership team.”