TThe U.S. men’s national soccer team is reeling from unexpected news. Sporting director Matt Crocker has resigned from his role just two months before the FIFA World Cup.
In a surprising development, Wales’ bosses have chosen to accept a multi-million dollar offer from rivals the Saudi Arabian national team, who will also play in this summer’s World Cup.
Alexi Lalas’ explosive reaction
The unexpected move prompted a strong reaction from former U.S. national team legend Alexi Lalas, who said he thought things couldn’t get any worse, but somehow they always do.
“Just when you thought the U.S. Soccer Federation wasn’t going to get into any more bat crap, something like this happens,” Alexi Lalas said on his podcast Tuesday morning.
“This is a really bad attitude, not just for the U.S. Soccer Federation, but for the world of soccer at a time when we can’t afford to see such a bad thing. He’s a leader, he’s the architect of what’s going to be on display on the field this summer, and he won’t be there.
“Not only will he not be there, but he will be joining another competing team in the World Cup. That seems very strange.”
Matt Crocker’s resignation is a major blow to the leadership of U.S. soccer, which now faces a complex scenario just weeks away from hosting the tournament it has spent years preparing for.
Crocker, who was appointed in 2023, played a key role in bringing Mauricio Pochettino back to the bench. However, he will now change projects and join the Saudi Arabian national team, creating uncertainty at a critical time for the U.S. men’s national team ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
