Category: U.S. Soccer

U.S. Soccer sporting director Crocker wants Berhalter replacement by September

Crocker is targeting a two-month coaching search, but has plans in place if it goes longer

U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker has said he would ideally like to have a new U.S. men’s national team head coach in place by September.

U.S. Soccer announced on Wednesday that Gregg Berhalter would be relieved of his duties, nine days after a loss to Uruguay confirmed a stunning group-stage exit at the Copa América.

In U.S. Soccer’s announcement, Crocker said that the search for Berhalter’s replacement was already underway. In a call with reporters later on Wednesday, the sporting director said he was targeting September’s FIFA window — which will see the USMNT face Canada on Sept. 7 and New Zealand three days later — to have a new coach in place.

However, Crocker added that he had “a really robust contingency plan” in place if a new coach wasn’t hired by then.

The length of U.S. Soccer’s search will be a major talking point after the team’s past two USMNT coaching hires have come at end of elongated processes.

Bruce Arena resigned in November 2017 after the team’s stunning failure to reach the 2018 World Cup, but Berhalter was not named as his successor for 13 months.

After Berhalter’s contract expired at the end of 2022, it would be another six months (which included a major scandal) until U.S. Soccer ultimately decided to re-hire him for a second stint.

This time, Crocker is hoping to shorten that timeframe down to two months. As far as which coach actually comes in, Crocker said that money and nationality would not be limiting factors.

“We are looking for a serial winning coach, a coach that can also build on the work that has already been put in place,” Crocker said.

“I just want to get the best coach possible that can help the team win,” Crocker added. “Whether they’re from the U.S. or elsewhere.

“It’s a really competitive market out there, salary-wise, and we have to be competitive to get the level of coach that I believe can take the program forward in terms of achieving the results that we want on the field.”

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Korbin Albert’s Pride jersey earns highest bid at auction for LGBTQ+ charity

The midfielder’s jersey was sold for more than $4,000 — the highest bid of any USWNT or USMNT player

Korbin Albert’s Pride-themed jersey has earned the highest bid in an online auction of shirts worn by 49 U.S. women’s and men’s national team players in June.

U.S. Soccer auctioned off the jerseys worn by the USMNT and USWNT during Pride Month, with all proceeds benefitting You Can Play, a charity that, per a federation release, “helps promote a safe and inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+ community.”

All of the rainbow-numbered jerseys were signed by players and then put up for auction throughout June, with the bidding ending on Sunday, the last day of the month.

Albert’s kit earned a bid of $4,052 from a user known as Daniel G. That offer easily topped the second-highest winning bid of $3,014, which came in for Alex Morgan’s jersey.

That Albert’s jersey topped all bids is, of course, ironic, given the controversy that has surrounded the midfielder since fans discovered anti-LGBTQ+ activity on her TikTok account back in March.

Albert apologized after the posts were publicized, and has since been rebuked by USWNT players past and present for her social media activity.

The 20-year-old has continued to be a key member of the USWNT’s midfield, appearing in all 10 of the team’s games this year.

Albert was named to the USWNT Olympic roster last week, with head coach Emma Hayes insisting afterwards that the midfielder is working hard behind the scenes and fully understands the damage that her posts could cause.

“I can say firsthand that having spent limited time with Korbin, she really is a lovely person and someone who really values the most important things, and that she’s spending time working on herself as we all do,” Hayes said.

“I look forward to building on that with her, and I want everybody to know that my job is to make sure I keep doing that. I want the fans to really embrace Korbin because I think she’s a tremendous human being.”

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Apple TV to broadcast final three rounds of 2024 U.S. Open Cup

The seven games will be available for free

U.S. Soccer has announced an agreement with Apple TV to broadcast the final three rounds of the 2024 U.S. Open Cup on MLS Season Pass.

The seven games will be available free to any user with an Apple ID.

MLS Season Pass will broadcast the quarterfinals (July 9-10), semifinals (August 27-28), and the final (September 25), with the last-eight pairings determined on Wednesday night after the conclusion of the round of 16.

The deal is only through the remainder of the 2024 tournament, with broadcast details — and indeed, the fate of the Open Cup itself — unknown beyond this season.

After initially trying to pull all of its clubs out of the Open Cup, MLS eventually agreed to field eight of its 26 American teams in this year’s competition.

That agreement is only good through the 2024 edition, with further discussions yet to take place on the format moving forward.

Of those eight teams in the Open Cup this year, five have reached the quarterfinal stage. The other three remaining clubs are from the second-tier USL Championship.

Below are the quarterfinal pairings, with the final schedule and venues for all matches still to be confirmed. The home side is listed first in each pairing.

2024 U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals

  • Sporting Kansas City (MLS) vs. FC Dallas (MLS)
  • Atlanta United (MLS) vs. Indy Eleven (USL-C)
  • Sacramento Republic (USL-C) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (MLS)
  • Los Angeles FC (MLS) vs. New Mexico United (USL-C)

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Marsch fires shot at U.S. Soccer after accepting Canada job

The new Canada boss said he wasn’t treated well by U.S. Soccer last summer

Canada head coach Jesse Marsch has accused U.S. Soccer of not treating him well when he interviewed for the U.S. men’s national team job last summer.

Marsch was named Canada men’s national team head coach earlier this week, taking charge of one of the USMNT’s biggest rivals just a month before the Copa América kicks off.

Things could have been different, though, had U.S. Soccer opted to hire the Wisconsin native last year when the federation had a vacancy in its men’s program.

In the midst of the interview process, Marsch’s agent went public to declare that his client would not be getting the job. The following day, U.S. Soccer announced that Gregg Berhalter had been rehired for another cycle as USMNT head coach.

Speaking on CBS’s Call It What You Want podcast on Thursday, Marsch didn’t get into the specifics of what went down last summer, but made it clear that he came away from the process with a bad taste in his mouth.

“My respect for U.S. Soccer is big, but I went through a process with them, right? And I’m not going to go into it, but I wasn’t treated very well in the process,” he said.

“And so whatever, that’s in the past now. The minute it was done I was like, ‘OK, I’m moving forward, and I’m going to figure out what’s right for me.’

“It motivated me again to find the right people. And so now I just want to talk about Canada, because I’m excited. I feel like it’s a fan base and a player pool and a nation that resonates with me.”

Before starting his head coaching career, Marsch worked for U.S. Soccer as an assistant with the USMNT on Bob Bradley’s staff.

Prior to being hired by Canada, Marsch had been out of work since being sacked by Leeds in February 2023. Since then, he has been working as a pundit and has not been shy about offering criticism of Berhalter.

Marsch has a contract with Canada Soccer through the 2026 World Cup, but said he could see himself staying even longer if things go well.

“I know my task is to get us to 2026 and have an incredible performance,” the 50-year-old said. “But you know, I think I’m going to love this job. I think I’m going to love the experience and the people that are working here, and I don’t think it’ll be out of the question for us to consider what it could look like long term.”

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U.S. women’s deaf national team set for historic doubleheader with USWNT

The U.S. women’s deaf national team will face Australia ahead of the USWNT’s friendly vs. South Korea

The U.S. women’s national team’s June 1 friendly against South Korea will now be part of a double bill.

U.S. Soccer announced on Friday that the U.S. women’s deaf national team will join the USWNT at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to play a friendly against Australia as part of a doubleheader.

Tickets for the USWNT’s match in Colorado will be valid for both matches, with the deaf national team’s match set for a 2 p.m. ET start. In a first for one of the federation’s extended national teams, the match will be broadcast on TruTV and Max.

That will be followed by the USWNT’s match against South Korea, which is scheduled for a 5 p.m. ET start. That game will be broadcast on TNT, TruTV, Universo, Max, and Peacock.

“The U.S. women’s deaf national team is honored to take part in this historic doubleheader with the U.S. women’s national team and I know all the players are excited to participate in this unique event,” said deaf WNT head coach Amy Griffin, who was part of the USWNT side that won the 1991 World Cup.

“Along with a legacy of international success, our team serves as an inspiration for deaf and hard of hearing players and is a catalyst for growth in those communities. This doubleheader and the broadcast of our game marks a huge step forward for the extended national teams program and will magnify what success looks like when more opportunities and access are provided to everyone.”

The deaf WNT has won a whopping 37 of its 38 games since getting started in 2005, claiming three DIFA World Deaf Football Championship titles and four Deaflympics gold medals in that time.

The friendly against Australia will wrap up the team’s first training camp since winning the World Deaf Football Championship in October. The camp is planned as part of the preparations for the 2024 Deaf Pan American Games, which will be held in Brazil from November 7-18.

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U.S. Soccer and Mexico withdraw joint bid for 2027 Women’s World Cup

The federations said they will instead focus on securing the tournament in 2031

U.S. Soccer and the Mexican Football Federation announced that they have withdrawn their joint bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

The two federations said that they would instead shift their focus to securing the 2031 World Cup, with the bid calling for equal investment to the men’s tournament.

“Hosting a World Cup tournament is a huge undertaking – and having additional time to prepare allows us to maximize its impact across the globe,” U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone said in a statement.

“I’m proud of our commitment to provide equitable experiences for the players, fans and all our stakeholders. Shifting our bid will enable us to host a record-breaking Women’s World Cup in 2031 that will help to grow and raise the level of the women’s game both here at home as well as across the globe.”

The USA-Mexico bid was one of three finalists for the tournament, which means the 2027 World Cup will come down to two remaining bids: a three-country proposal from Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, and a bid from Brazil.

The host of the 2027 tournament will be announced after a vote at the FIFA Congress on May 17 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The United States will still have plenty of major events coming even without the World Cup in 2027. The country will host the Copa América this summer, the expanded Club World Cup in 2025, the men’s World Cup in 2026 alongside Mexico and Canada, and the 2028 Olympics will be in Los Angeles.

With such a crowded schedule, the two federations made the determination to shift their focus to 2031.

“After careful analysis we feel that moving our bid back to 2031 will allow us to promote and build up to the most successful Women’s World Cup ever,” said Mexican Football Federation president Ivar Sisniega.

“The strength and universality of our professional women’s leagues, coupled with our experience from organizing the 2026 World Cup, means that we will be able to provide the best infrastructure as well as an enthusiastic fan base that will make all the participating teams feel at home and to put together a World Cup that will contribute to the continued growth of women’s football.”

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The USWNT and USMNT general manager positions are likely dead

The roles, which were first filled in 2018 and 2019, won’t be returning

The general manager positions for both the U.S. men’s and women’s national team are likely no more.

In an interview with reporters on Sunday, U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker confirmed that the positions, which have both become vacant in 2023, would probably not be filled.

“I’m just still in the process of finalizing the high-level supporting structure, but if you look at the GM role, my thinking is one of the big priorities for me is to make sure the senior men’s coach and the senior women’s coach report into the sporting director,” Crocker said in quotes published by ESPN. “I was pretty insistent on that. I feel like I’ll be the one that will be recruiting those coaches.

“I’ll be the one that will be making sure they’ve got robust development plans sitting with them or outlying the strategy. So it’s my job to hold those guys accountable for what has been agreed.”

Earnie Stewart became the first USMNT general manager when he was hired in 2018. One year later, he was promoted to sporting director and replaced by Brian McBride. Stewart and McBride both departed U.S. Soccer this January.

On the women’s side, Kate Markgraf — the only person to fill the USWNT general manager role — stepped down last month after she was hired in 2019.

The women’s GM position also included overseeing youth national teams, with those responsibilities set to be “split into other roles,” according to Crocker.

Crocker’s decision streamlines the U.S. Soccer organization chart. The two general manager positions were in charge of overseeing their respective senior national teams and their operations, including making head coaching decisions.

Those decisions will now fall to Crocker, who was brought on this April to replace Stewart.

Crocker’s role oversees the entire U.S. Soccer sporting department, which includes senior and youth national teams for both men and women, as well as extended national teams.

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U.S. Soccer to build training center, headquarters in Atlanta

U.S. Soccer is relocating to Georgia after a massive contribution from Atlanta United owner Arthur Blank

U.S. Soccer is heading to Atlanta, where it plans to build a training center and headquarters after a $50 million contribution from Atlanta United and Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank.

The announcement came following a U.S. Soccer board of directors meeting on Friday, as the federation said it would be departing its longtime home, Chicago. U.S. Soccer sold its former “Soccer House” headquarters in August.

“This national training center will accelerate the growth of soccer in this country and will represent a commitment to developing elite soccer players for decades to come,” U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone said in a press release announcing the move.

“Investing in youth and adult programs as well as our extended national teams reflects our commitment to ensuring that players of all ages and backgrounds can find a home and thrive in this sport. These investments are a signal to our players, coaches, referees, members and fans that the future of U.S. Soccer is bright.”

Federation CEO and secretary general JT Batson has been tapped to select a final site in the metro Atlanta region, with U.S. Soccer saying that feasibility studies are being conducted on several locations already. The federation says it will make a final choice in January 2024.

The new facility will serve as federation headquarters and the training center for all 27 national team programs. That’s a massive change from the previous set-up, which saw U.S. Soccer’s business and operations set up in Chicago while training camps took place either near the venue for upcoming friendlies or, for winter camps, in California.

The federation noted that part of Blank’s funding of the project is earmarked for facilities designed specifically for the nine extended national teams, “particularly in support of the cerebral palsy (CP), deaf, and power soccer national teams.”

Blank’s hefty financial contribution does not foot the entire bill, with the federation saying that the project is “funded in part” by the Home Depot co-founder. U.S. Soccer did not note further outside contributions, but did mention that longtime FIFA sponsor Coca-Cola “played an important role” in the federation moving to Georgia. The beverage maker and U.S. Soccer announced a long-term sponsorship deal in July.

“America’s top athletes deserve the best when it comes to preparing them for competition on the global stage and I’m thrilled U.S. Soccer has chosen metro Atlanta as its new home,” said Blank.

“Atlanta’s incredible passion for soccer, corporate community and unmatched infrastructure make this a natural home for the national training center and I’m very confident our community will help America’s finest soccer players compete on a global level like never before.”

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Buck unloads on U.S. Soccer after accepting England call-up

“They haven’t really given me the time of day,” Buck said of U.S. Soccer

Noel Buck is not happy with U.S. Soccer, and he’s not afraid to say it.

One day after he accepted a call-up to England’s U-19 squad, the New England Revolution midfielder charged that the American federation hadn’t “given me the time of day.”

Buck is in the midst of a breakout campaign with the Revs, making his international future a pertinent talking point. The 18-year-old was born and raised in the U.S. but is eligible for England and Wales through his father.

Though the midfielder did get a call-up from the U.S. U-19 side in July, he’s been bypassed by the U-20s on multiple occasions, including the World Cup earlier this year.

Buck sent a message prior to Saturday’s game against Austin FC, showing up at Gillette Stadium in a retro England kit. He had plenty more to say after the game, as well.

Asked by the Blazing Musket if he should have gotten more chances with the U.S. at this point, Buck didn’t hold back.

“I feel like they haven’t really given me the time of day to be completely honest,” he said. “And when I get called to an England camp, you know, it’s an honor for me.

“Wearing this [England] shirt isn’t a symbol of like, screw the U.S. because it’s not. They just haven’t given me the time of day and I want to have a good time and really learn something there.”

Earlier in the week, USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter spoke highly of Buck after naming his roster for September friendlies against Uzbekistan and Oman.

“He’s been great. He’s been really strong,” said Berhalter. “I have spoken to him. There has been interest from England, which I think is great. Great achievement, when you have a country like England looking at you.

“I’ve communicated with him, told him that we see him as a player that can compete to make the World Cup team in 2026, based on what he’s doing now.”

Buck acknowledged the conversation with Berhalter, but didn’t feel that communication was sufficient.

“I think besides just talking a bit with Gregg, the U.S. haven’t really talked to me a whole lot,” he said. “You know, there’s been some talks about U-19s a year ago, but other than that, not a whole lot. England have really shown some interest and I’m glad to take it.”

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U.S. Soccer sells former Chicago headquarters for $3.9 million

U.S. Soccer House will be converted back to residential usage by its new owners

U.S. Soccer has sold two adjacent Chicago mansions that served as its longtime headquarters for $3.9 million, according to the Chicago Tribune.

That figure is slightly down from the asking price of $4.2 million that the federation set in January, when it listed the Kimball house and the Coleman-Ames house in Chicago’s Prairie Avenue Historical District.

Together, the two mansions were known as U.S. Soccer House.

The Chicago Tribune said that the mansions’ new owners planned to convert the buildings back to residential usage.

The 19th-century mansions in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood served as U.S. Soccer’s headquarters from December 1991 to last year, when the federation moved its headquarters two miles north to an office building in the East Loop, located at 303 E. Wacker Drive.

Prior to 1991, U.S. Soccer was based in Colorado Springs. Though the federation has relocated to downtown Chicago, it could soon be on the move once again.

A report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last month said that Atlanta had emerged as the front-runner to serve as U.S. Soccer’s new headquarters and official training center. Cary, North Carolina is reportedly also in the mix.

The new HQ would not only contain the federation’s offices, but 14 fields to serve as the home base for all of U.S. Soccer’s men’s, women’s, youth, and extended national teams.

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