New USMNT Sporting Director Says the US Will Be a “Feared” Nation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Matt Crocker weighs on the USA's chances at the much-anticipated 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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2026 FIFA World Cup (Image via Unsplash)
In April, U.S. Soccer confirmed the appointment of a new sporting director, Matt Crocker, who will begin his new role overseeing the development of soccer stateside in August. The former director of football operations at English Premier League side Southampton FC, Crocker was visibly excited at the prospect of taking the U.S. men’s national team (USMNT) to the next level ahead of co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With just three years until the tournament, Crocker admitted he was attracted to working with a “dynamic, forward-thinking” group of prospects. This is something Crocker is no stranger to, having spent years working in youth development. During his opening press conference, Crocker insisted the USMNT will be “feared” as the team will “really attack” a tournament on home soil.
It’s certainly true that the sportsbooks believe the USA will be a tough proposition. They are priced as short as the Netherlands (+1900) to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup with FanDuel Sportsbook. As one of the US-licensed online sportsbooks with a sizeable market share stateside, this operator will have a strong handle on the USMNT squad and its potential. The FanDuel promo code has been operational since September 2018 when it launched in New Jersey, and the company has since expanded its presence into 15 additional US states.
Although the USA flattered to deceive at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Crocker believes the 2026 tournament will be much different with the local communities “being [their] 12th player behind the scenes”. It’s true that other nations have been inspired to victory in the World Cup on home soil before. England lifted their only Jules Rimet trophy at Wembley in 1966, while France became world champions in Paris in 1998 against the might of the Brazilians.
Who will be the man in charge of the USMNT in 2026?
One of Crocker’s first missions is to recruit Gregg Berhalter’s long-term replacement as head coach of the USMNT. Crocker described this task as an “honor”. He also provided an overview of the traits and attributes that he and his department will be looking for in a potential head coach. Primarily, they will need the right “behaviors” to make the most of an “aggressive, forward-thinking” roster.
Crocker also praised the “great foundations” imposed by Berhalter in terms of the USMNT’s style of play. He added that his replacement would be tasked with evolving this approach and delivering the strong leadership needed to foster a “really strong culture” that can act as a lightning rod for US soccer for generations to come.
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