Matt Crocker joined the U.S. Soccer Federation in 2023 as the second-ever Sporting Director. In this role, he is responsible for setting the Federation’s sporting vision and performance strategy across all national teams including the Men’s and Women’s National Teams, Youth National Teams, and Extended National Teams. Crocker leads the technical direction of U.S. Soccer, with a focus on alignment, performance, and long-term player development. 

Since starting his role, Crocker has focused on building aligned, world-class sporting systems designed to deliver sustained success. This includes the launch of the U.S. Way, a unified philosophy and tactical framework designed to drive excellence at every level of the game by establishing clear development pathways, shared standards, and consistent best practices across the Federation.

During his tenure, Crocker has appointed Emma Hayes as head coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team, who went on to lead the team to Olympic Gold in 2024, and Mauricio Pochettino as head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team. These appointments reflect a commitment to elite leadership, modern methodology, and global best practices. Under his direction, the Extended National Teams have also continued their success, highlighted by the U.S. Men’s CP team winning the 2025 IFCPF Copa América championship.

Crocker has played a central role in the sporting vision, conception and design of The Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Fayetteville, Georgia, helping to create a player-first environment that supports performance, accessibility and long-term development.

Having previously served as Head of Development Teams at the English Football Association and Director of Football Operations at Southampton FC, Crocker brings more than 30 years of experience building and leading elite player development systems. At the English Football Association, he helped establish the “England DNA” and contributed to a resurgence of England’s youth national teams, including FIFA Under-17 and Under-20 World Cup titles in 2017 and the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2019. At Southampton FC, he oversaw the development of players such as Gareth Bale, Luke Shaw, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and James Ward-Prowse, and played a key role in the professionalization and rise of Southampton women’s program.

Early in his career, from 1999-2005, Crocker served as the Academy Director at his hometown club, Cardiff City FC, where he created the academy program, before taking a job as Youth Development Monitor for the English Football League, which governs the three divisions below the English Premier League.

A native of Wales, Crocker completed his university education at Cardiff Metropolitan University, where he earned a degree in Sports Coaching and Physical Education. He holds a UEFA Pro License, FA Technical Directors License and FA Academy Manager’s License, along with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Sport Pedagogy.