Category: U.S. Soccer

USWNT GM Kate Markgraf steps down as U.S. Soccer shake-up continues

The changes at U.S. Soccer just keep coming

The big changes with the U.S. women’s national team just keep coming.

USWNT general manager Kate Markgraf has stepped down from her post, with U.S. Soccer releasing a statement on Friday confirming an earlier report from Equalizer Soccer.

“After four years, Kate Markgraf has decided not to continue as the U.S. Women’s National Team General Manager with U.S. Soccer,” read U.S. Soccer’s official announcement. “She will provide support through the end of the month to assist in the transition.”

Markgraf was the first-ever GM for the USWNT program, taking over a newly-created role in August 2019 and overseeing both the senior team as well as youth national team programs.

“It has been an incredible honor to work with the players, coaches and staff at U.S. Soccer on the mission of keeping our program at the top of the women’s game,” said Markgraf. “I am proud of the foundation we have built, and even more proud of the character and commitment demonstrated by our players as they represent the United States on and off the field. I look forward to supporting all of our programs and have every confidence that we will maintain our standards of excellence moving forward.”

During her playing career, Markgraf was one of the “99ers,” the squad that won the historic 1999 World Cup, and amassed 201 caps from 1998-2010.

“Kate has been an instrumental part of women’s national team both on and off the field for many years, and we’re very thankful for the tireless work she has given to the USWNT and all our youth national teams,” said U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker. “We wish her all the best in her future endeavors and look forward to building on the foundation she helped establish over the past several years.”

U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone, who was Markgraf’s teammate on the USWNT for many years, added that the federation is “grateful to Kate for the tremendous work she has done in helping guide our women’s national team and the transformative work on our youth women’s national team programs. Her knowledge and experience have been incredibly valuable, and we are poised to build on that foundation as we look to the future.”

Murky future for USWNT

U.S. Soccer did not announce next steps in announcing the news, which is yet another major change in direction for the federation. Crocker only recently started as the full-time sporting director after Earnie Stewart’s departure in January. The end of Stewart’s tenure coincided with U.S. Soccer’s men’s general manager, Brian McBride, not being retained after his contract expired.

USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski resigned from the job earlier this week after a disappointing World Cup ended in the team’s earliest-ever exit from the tournament. Twila Kilgore has been appointed interim head coach.

The changes come at what seems like an inflection point for the women’s side of U.S. Soccer. Two straight underwhelming showings at big tournaments more or less required major change, and the team finds itself phasing out veterans and bringing youngsters in for bigger roles. There is something of an age gap within the current squad as well, with only nine of the 23-player World Cup roster falling in the prime years between the ages of 24-29.

U.S. Soccer’s decision in terms of head coach likely only matters if the structures around that coach allow the program to thrive. That makes the next move at the top of the organizational chart — whether that is a new GM, or a more big-picture change in leadership structure — just as important as the more high-profile pursuit of a new manager.

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U.S. Soccer hires Onyewu for newly created VP of sporting role

The 40-year-old will report to sporting director Matt Crocker in the new role

U.S. Soccer has announced that Oguchi Onyewu has been hired as the federation’s vice president of sporting.

The newly created role will see the ex-U.S. men’s national team defender take on a host of responsibilities as he reports to new sporting director Matt Crocker.

In a news release, U.S. Soccer said Onyewu will work closely with Crocker “in supporting all sporting initiatives within the federation,” and “will also play a prominent role in managing relationships with clubs and leagues in the United States and across the world, along with strengthening other stakeholder relationships.”

One of Onyewu’s first tasks will be assisting Crocker in the search for a new USMNT head coach.

“I am incredibly excited to take on this new challenge and work with Matt and the rest of the U.S. Soccer team to help shape the future of soccer in this country,” said Onyewu.

“As a former player, I understand firsthand the importance of investing in our youth and building a strong foundation for the future. I look forward to working with the men’s and women’s senior teams, youth national teams and extended national teams to help support and grow our talented pool of players and identify and develop the next generation.”

Onyewu earned 69 caps for the USMNT during his career, including appearances at the 2006 and 2010 World Cup. Since he’s retired, the 40-year-old became the sporting director for Orlando City B in 2018, and was then named secretary general of Belgian club Royal Excelsior Virton in 2020.

Onyewu was also on the Athletes Council of the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors before stepping down this past week to take his new position.

“We are thrilled to welcome Oguchi Onyewu to our team at U.S. Soccer,” said Crocker. “His experience as a player and sports executive, coupled with his deep understanding of U.S. Soccer, Oguchi will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our sporting initiatives. We all look forward to working closely with him.”

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U.S. Soccer names Matt Crocker sporting director

The ex-Southampton and England executive will take over from Earnie Stewart

U.S, Soccer has announced the hiring of Matt Crocker as the federation’s new sporting director.

The 48-year-old will replace Earnie Stewart, who left U.S. Soccer in January to take a role with Dutch power PSV.

Crocker joins from Southampton, where he is currently serving as the club’s director of football operations. Prior to that, he spent seven years as the head of England’s youth international teams for both men and women.

“I’m really honored and excited to join U.S. Soccer as sporting director,” Crocker told reporters on Tuesday. “The immediate focus is supporting where I can the women’s World Cup team as they get ready for Australia and New Zealand… Leading the search for the next men’s coach is an opportunity I’m excited about.”

Per U.S. Soccer, Crocker will not start on a full-time basis until August 2 (which is to say, one day after the U.S. women’s national team finishes its group stage slate at the World Cup), but “will immediately begin the process of hiring the head coach of the Men’s National Team and supporting the U.S. Women’s National Team general manager Kate Markgraf and USWNT head coach Vlatko Andonovski.”

Crocker’s first, and arguably biggest task in his new job will be hiring a permanent U.S. men’s national team head coach ahead of a home World Cup in 2026.

Anthony Hudson is currently serving as an interim but has repeatedly said he’s not looking for the full-time gig. Gregg Berhalter is out of contract, but U.S. Soccer has said he remains a candidate after he was forthcoming in an investigation about the details of a 1992 domestic violence incident.

Who is Matt Crocker?

Crocker began his career at Cardiff, where he served as a development coach for the club’s youth teams, before taking on a role at Southampton overseeing the academy setup. During his first tenure with the Saints, players like Gareth Bale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Luke Shaw and James Ward-Prowse came through the club’s academy.

The Welshman bolstered his reputation during his time with the FA between 2013 and 2020, where he oversaw U-17 and U-20 World Cup wins for the men’s team in 2017 and helped establish an overall playing and coaching strategy called the “England DNA.”

He then returned to Southampton where he’s overseen the men’s, women’s and youth teams for the Saints. The women’s team has won back-to-back promotions over the last two seasons.

U.S. women’s national team general manager Kate Markgraf will report to Crocker, while it is still unclear if U.S. Soccer will hire a USMNT general manager to replace Brian McBride, who departed along with Stewart in January.

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USA-Mexico among four bids to host 2027 women’s World Cup

The North American bid will be competing against bids from Europe, South America and Africa

FIFA announced on Monday that it had received expressions of interest from four bids looking to host the 2027 women’s World Cup, including the joint USA-Mexico bid announced last week.

In addition to the USA-Mexico bid, three others will compete to be selected as the host of the tournament:

  • A joint bid between Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands
  • South Africa
  • Brazil

Of the seven countries bidding, only two have hosted a women’s World Cup before: Germany, which did so in 2011 and the USA, which hosted in 1999 and 2003.

Should South Africa or Brazil be selected, it would mark the first time the women’s World Cup is held in either Africa or South America.

“We are thrilled by the expressions of interest received, not least because they come from member associations with a strong football tradition representing four confederations, thus confirming the consistent popularity of women’s football across the world,” said FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura in a statement.

“All member associations can rely on the most robust and comprehensive bidding process in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”

The host of the 2027 World Cup will be announced after a public vote at the FIFA Congress on May 17, 2024.

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Canada is *totally fine* it wasn’t invited to the USA-Mexico World Cup bid party

Really, it’s fine. Not like we are already hosting another World Cup together or anything

Canada Soccer would like everyone to know they are just fine with not being involved in the USA-Mexico joint bid for the 2027 women’s World Cup.

Really, it’s OK. No hard feelings or anything. It’s not like they ARE ALL GOING TO HOST A MEN’S WORLD CUP TOGETHER, or like Canada has any expertise they could’ve offered having JUST HOSTED A WOMEN’S WORLD CUP.

That was essentially the contents of a rather bitter statement released by Canada Soccer in the wake of Wednesday’s news that the U.S. and Mexico would submit a joint bid for the 2027 World Cup.

“We wish our close neighbours the best of luck in their bid to host the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Given we were recent hosts, Canada Soccer has not been part of these conversations and was never put in a position to decline a co-hosting opportunity,” the statement read. “If the US Soccer and the Mexican Federation bid is successful, it would be Mexico’s first time hosting a Women’s World Cup, and we are in full support.”

To further emphasize their point that hey, maybe you could’ve at least texted us or something, Canada Soccer then listed a whole host of milestones it reached when serving as host of the 2015 women’s World Cup.

“As hosts in 2015, the tournament generated $493.6 million surpassing the expected total of $337 million,” the statement said, noting the revenue-generating experience the USA-Mexico bid absolutely will not be able to utilize.

Hopefully this won’t make things too awkward as the three countries continue preparing for the World Cup they will actually host together: the 2026 men’s World Cup.

“We look forward to welcoming the soccer world once again to Canada, as we continue to prepare to co-host the 2026 men’s World Cup,” the statement concluded.

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USA and Mexico announce joint bid for 2027 women’s World Cup

The USA would be hosting the event for the third time, while Mexico has never hosted

U.S. Soccer and the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) announced that they have informed FIFA of their intention to submit a bid to co-host the 2027 women’s World Cup.

If successful, the joint USA-Mexico event would take place just one year after the USA, Mexico and Canada co-host the 2026 men’s World Cup, and one year before Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Olympics.

For the USA, it would be the third time hosting the women’s World Cup after 1999 and 2003, while Mexico has never hosted the event.

“The United States has always been a global leader for the women’s game, and we would be honored to co-host the world’s premier event for women’s soccer along with Mexico,” said U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone.

“Hosting the 2027 Women’s World Cup provides us an incredible opportunity to cap off two historic years of World Cup soccer in the CONCACAF region, helping us continue to grow the game among our confederation associations. A record six teams from CONCACAF will play in the Women’s World Cup this summer, and the United States and Mexico want to continue to push the envelope for the development of women’s soccer across the entire region.”

The joint U.S. Soccer-FMF announcement came on Wednesday, which was the deadline for FIFA member associations to submit their expressions of interest in hosting the 2027 World Cup. May 19 is the deadline to submit the Bidding Agreement, and the two federations said more information on the bid would be available then.

The host for the 2027 World Cup is expected to be named during the FIFA Congress on May 17, 2024.

There have so far been three other confirmed bids: a joint bid from Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, as well as bids from South Africa and from Brazil.

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The U.S. Soccer president will continue to earn a $0 salary

An amendment to pay U.S. Soccer’s president an annual salary was voted down at this year’s AGM

U.S. Soccer president is a little closer to being a paid position, but it’s not there yet.

For the second straight year, an amendment that would pay the U.S. Soccer president $125,000 annually was rejected at U.S. Soccer’s Annual General Meeting.

Last year the amendment got 58.91% approval and this year that figure was 62.87% — just short of the two-thirds required to adopt it.

U.S. Soccer president — who since 2020 has been Cindy Parlow Cone — has always been an unpaid position, which is typical of nonprofits like U.S. Soccer.

But there is a growing movement to change that, given Parlow Cone works full-time hours in her role.

As Yahoo Sports documented, Parlow Cone’s assistant was asked last year to track her weekly hours.

The time study found that, from July through November, [Parlow Cone] spent weekly averages of 12-14 hours in scheduled meetings, 18-24 hours on unscheduled calls and nine hours reading emails or documents.

The opposition to paying the U.S. Soccer president appears to come mostly from those who run amateur soccer associations across the country. From Yahoo:

“I would suggest to you that our clubs, the tens of thousands of clubs who are led by presidents who are volunteers — [they] probably invest as much time in their work life as they do in their volunteer job,” Dave Guthrie, Indiana Soccer’s executive director, said at last year’s AGM.

“So I don’t know that that justification [for paying the USSF president] holds true unless we somehow want to pay all of our presidents of all of our member organizations. Which I don’t think we’re prepared to do.”

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