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Generation Adidas U17 Report

Published

4 years ago

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I did it for you all. I watched every broadcasted U17 match that featured an American MLS team. That means I was able to watch these clubs, some multiple times: Atlanta, LAFC, NYCFC, Seattle, Minnesota, LA Galaxy, NYRB, San Jose, Philadelphia, Columbus, Austin, Charlotte, Cincinnati, DC United, Miami, Houston and Real Salt Lake. 

The following clubs did not get a broadcast at the U17 level: New England, Dallas, Orlando, KC, Portland, St. Louis, Colorado, Nashville or Chicago. 

The U17 level consists of players born in 2005, 2006 and there were numerous players born in 2007 that were playing up a level. The 2005 age group has been a bit of a forgotten one from a Youth National Team (YNT) perspective, though the USSF just announced the hiring of Marko Mitrovic to lead the U19 group, which will focus on the 2005 age group. The reason they have been a bit of an afterthought is because the 2023 U20 World Cup will mostly feature 2003s and 2004s and the 2023 U17 World Cup will feature 2006s and 2007s. 

Scouting players at this level is challenging. It can be messy. I rate players based on three categories: physical ability (strength, speed, quickness, explosiveness), technical ability (touch, dribbling, passing, shooting, tackling) and tactical/intellectual ability (creativity, mental processing, toughness). 

At this age, I am looking for peaks and am not necessarily too concerned about valleys. I am  looking for elite traits, even if they show up inconsistently. Obviously the players that do it more consistently get noted, but the key at this level is identify what a player could be and hope that through development, physical and mental maturation, and luck;  the consistency will come and the areas of weakness can become strengths. 

I’ve gone position by position to identify players that caught my eye: 

Goalkeepers 

Emmy Ochoa, San Jose Earthquakes (2005)

Emmy Ochoa is a Mexican-American that has played for Mexico at the U18 level, but is eligible to play for the US and is a likely target for the 2005 group. He signed as a homegrown player with San Jose as a 14 year old and currently starts for Earthquake II in MLS Next Pro. He’s the best 2005 US-eligible keeper that I have scouted. What stood out to me in the match I watched Emmy play vs River Plate was his ability with the ball at his feet and his intensity. 

Jonathan Munteanu, Houston Dynamo (2005)

Jonathan has not played as a Youth International and is not on a pro contract, nor has he played for Dynamo 2. Jonathan caught my eye because of the explosiveness and demanding presence he showed between the pipes. 

Left-Backs

Brian Alanis, Houston Dynamo (2006)

Brian Alanis is a youth international that has most recently joined a U17 camp in January. I liked Brian’s ability to maneuver in tight spaces and he has a really nice touch. He showed the ability to both initiate positive transitions and get on the end of transitional play by flying up the left sideline. 

Christian McFarlane, NYCFC (2007)

Christian was one of the few standout 2007s playing up a level. He is a British-American that signed a homegrown contract with NYCFC as a 14 year old, but has not yet featured for NYCFC or NYCFC II in MLS Next Pro, though I’d expect that to happen at some point this year. Christian is big for his age, already standing at 6-0 tall. That also makes him bigger than you typically see at the full-back position, but I really like him out there. He’s really smooth on the ball and does a really nice job with his first touch. He showed a good ability to progress the ball forward and place passes right where they needed to be. 

Right-Backs

Oscar Verhoeven, San Jose Earthquakes (2006) 

Oscar is one of my favorite youth players to watch because he is so creative with the ball at his feet. Oscar has been called to the last couple U17 YNT camps and I expect him to be a fixture in that team. He has not signed a professional contract and has not played for Earthquakes II, but I think he will at some point this year. I saw more of what I had seen from Oscar, lightning quick feet, highly creative and good long passing and crosses. His defenses isn’t quite at the level of his offense, but he puts in a shift and he’s plenty fine physically at this level. 

Izzy Boatwright, Inter Miami (2005)

Izzy played both Center-back and Right-back for Inter Miami, but played more so at RB, so I am placing him here. How Izzy develops physically will likely determine where he ends up. I first saw him play CB and loved his quickness and skill on the ball and as a passer. When I saw him play RB I was very intrigued, because he is a bigger guy. He showed even more creativity on the ball and was a monster in 1v1 defense. He was an absolute lock down 1v1 defender against the eventual championship side, Seattle. 

​​Diego Rossi, NYCFC (2005)

Diego was recently called into the U19 camp and has appeared for NYCFC II. I was impressed with Diego’s quick feet, pace and ability to connect play up the right side. 

Center-Backs

Francis Westfield, Philadelphia Union (2005)

Francis has appeared in two matches for Union II, starting one. He, like Izzy Boatwright, plays both RB and CB. He played RCB in a back three in the match I saw against Flamengo, maybe one of the most impressive performances I saw by a MLS academy team against a giant like Flamengo. Westfield showed an incredible feel for the game, he was intercepting everything. He isn’t the tallest CB, but he moves well and is plenty comfortable with the ball at his feet, but for sure his most impressive trait was the way he reads the game and disrupts the opponent’s attack. 

Ángel Martínez, Seattle Sounders (2005)

Ángel has played for the USYNT at the U15 level. Ángel might not be the most physically gifted CB in this age group, but he is so smart and reads the game so well. He and Stuart Hawkins were the most solid CB pairing I saw and was a big reason why Seattle one the U17 cup. Ángel showed some good long balls and good ability to dribble out of trouble, but his mental processing was what really stood out to me. 

Tyler Hall, Inter Miami (2006)

I only saw Tyler for a half, but you only need to see Tyler play a little to see that he is special. Tyler captained the USYNT U17s in the last camp and he has been a starter for Inter Miami II. I think it is only a matter of time before Tyler gets a homegrown deal with Miami. He’s clearly very well thought of within that organization and within the USSF. He has all the makings of an elite CB prospect, especially if he hits a little bit of growth spurt. He’s extremely mobile, physical, smart and is very comfortable with the ball at his feet. Unfortunately Tyler got a knock and missed the quarter-finals and semi-finals. I thought Miami really missed his presence in the backline and was a big reason they did not go through to the finals. Hopefully he gets fit soon and can get back on the field for Inter Miami II. Tyler is one of the best 2006 prospects I’ve scouted in the USYNT pool. 

Matai Akinmboni, DC United (2006)

Matai is a tall, left-footed Center-back that has played for DC United’s USL side, Loudoun United. He and Jace Clark are two highly regarded CBs within the DC program at the U17 level. These two had the tough task of taking on a high powered River Plate side in VERY windy conditions. It wasn’t a standout game from Matai, but there were enough flashes of his ability as a ball playing CB, and his ambition to break lines with his passes, to get me excited. Tyler and Matai would make a very exciting CB pairing at the U17 level. 

Defensive-Mids

Ethan Kohler, San Jose Earthquakes (2005)

You can’t miss Ethan on the pitch because he rocks the short shorts. Ethan has not played at the youth international level and is not on any sort of pro contract, but he did make his debut with Earthquakes II last weekend, starting at RCB. Ethan caught my eye at the GA Cup because he covers a lot of ground and is fearless going into tackles and challenges. He showed a lot of leadership qualities on the pitch and was also solid in possession and distribution. 

Bryan Moyada, LAFC (2005)

Bryan is more of a deep lying, playmaking 6 in the mold of a Danny Leyva. I watched LAFC U17 play Flamengo in a match where LAFC looked a bit over matched, however Flamengo struggled to put together any big time chances and I think that was in large part because of Bryan’s pitch control and his ability to minimize momentum through craft possession and passing. 

Center-Mids

Niko Tsakiris, San Jose Earthquakes (2005)

Niko signed his homegrown contract with San Jose earlier this year and has been getting some minutes with the first team and he’s looked good. Niko has the looks of being one of the top 2005s in the USYNT pool and with more success in the MLS, he could start getting looks with the U20s, otherwise he will be a staple with the 2005 group. Niko was very strong against River, showing good body control and an ability to progress the ball into the final third. He was a menace all match and looked exactly how you’d want a professional to look in a youth tournament. 

Benjamin Cremaschi, Inter Miami (2005)

Cremaschi is an Argentinian-American who signed with the Miami academy recently from Weston. Benjamin actually first caught my eye in a MLS Next Pro match against Philly where he scored a nice header goal against McGlynn and Paxten. He played really well all tournament as both an 8 and a 6. He’s physically advanced and plays very strong and aggressive. He reads the game well and breaks up a lot of plays defensively. He is also a good ball progressor and connects well with wings and strikers. He’s definitely one to keep an eye on. I think his future is as a 6. 

Daniel Ordonez, Austin FC (2005)

Daniel is a super smart and crafty midfielder. He’s tidy with the ball at his feet and he reads the game super well. He showed many different ways to progress the ball and help get the ball in dangerous positions. 

Brandon Tellez, LA Galaxy (2005)

I thought Brandon played really well against a very good Manchester United side. He was dangerous in attack, creative with the dribble and had very good ideas in getting out of tight situations. He was one of the bright players in a match where LAG went toe to toe with one of the best academies in the world. 

Caleb Borneo, Columbus Crew (2005)

Caleb has not signed a homegrown contract nor has he played internationally, but he has made the bench for Crew 2 and his debut should be around the corner. I really loved Caleb’s versatility in the match I watched. In the first half he played more as a playmaking 6 and in the second half he played more as an attacking 10 and he was effective at both. 

Nate Worth, NYRB (2007)

Nate is one of the four 2007s on this list. He has not signed a homegrown contract, but he is on loan to NYRB II in the USL and he has been with the USYNT U15s. It’s rumored that Nate is the best free kick taker in the USYNT pool, but we didn’t get to see too much of it. He did score a goal in the match I saw on a bit of a broken play. He looked a little bit overmatched physically, he’s not the biggest kid, but overall I thought he showed toughness and hung in well for someone playing up a level. 

Attacking-Mids

Cruz Medina, San Jose Earthquakes (2006)

Cruz is a premier 2006 player in the USYNT pool. He has not yet signed a homegrown contract, but he has trained with clubs like Bayern Munich. I expect the homegrown deal to happen this year and I also expect him to play with Earthquakes II at some point soon. He has been a consistent call up to the USYNT U17s. Cruz has more of a 10 profile, but plays the 8 for SJ and USMNT. In San Jose’s match against River, I saw more of what I have seen from Cruz. He’s got a rare and special ability with the ball at his feet. He’s so creative in tight spaces and has some sneaky acceleration to get by people. He’s not the biggest or fastest, but his technical ability is remarkable. 

https://twitter.com/USMNTZ/status/1513564802827755522?s=20&t=bXEVlYd42tJ7wYmsGNz7Ig
Christopher Aquino, Seattle Sounders (2006)

Mr. Aquino was one of the stars of the tournament and the championship team’s best attacking player. He came off the bench in the three matches I watched and played a false 9 type of role. He scored a goal in both the semi-finals and the finals. The goal in the finals was from about 25 to 30 yards out. He has a smooth left foot and is crafty in creating space in tight areas. Just when you thought the 2006 USYNT midfield couldn’t get anymore stacked, now you can throw Aquino in the mix. 

https://twitter.com/SoundersAcademy/status/1515871548380377092?s=20&t=bXEVlYd42tJ7wYmsGNz7Ig

Wingers

Álex Alcalá, LA Galaxy (2005)

Álex is on LA Galaxy II, but has not yet played for the USL side. He is eligible to play for the US and Mexico. He’s undersized, but boy did he put on a show in the round of 16 against Manchester United. He nutmegged the MU left-back four or five times. His dribbling and creative problem solving in tight spaces was a joy to watch. 

Justin Knighton, LA Galaxy (2005)

Justin is a pacey, aggressive winger who was up for the challenge against Manchester United. He was relentless in running at defenders and created a lot of problems. He scored the first goal in that match and it was a nice one. 

https://twitter.com/LAGalaxyAcademy/status/1514387655680688129?s=20&t=bXEVlYd42tJ7wYmsGNz7Ig
Andre Gitau, Houston Dynamo (2006)

Andre is another top 2006 and recently played with the USYNT U17s. Andre has a rare blend of athleticism and skill. He was a handful in the match I watched. He loves attacking players 1v1 and is able to have success with speed, power and skill. 

Micah Burton, Austin FC (2006)

Micah recently played false 9 for the USYNT U17s, but he is better suited as a 10 or a winger. He’s undersized, but has a wonderful feel for the game and good technical ability. He scored on a very nice goal in the match I watched and was active all match long. I loved the different ways he got out of tight situations and he moved incredibly well without the ball. 

https://twitter.com/MLSNEXT/status/1513198377093193728?s=20&t=bXEVlYd42tJ7wYmsGNz7Ig
Miles Perkovich, Inter Miami (2006)

The 2006 group has the looks of a historic one. Miles is another attacking player from that class that I am high on and he had some really nice moments in the GA Cup. He’s ambitious and creative with the dribble and loves to attack 1v1. I thought he held onto the ball a little too long in some instances and he wasn’t a major factor in the semi-final loss to Seattle, but there were tough circumstances in that match. Miles is more quick than fast and is very strong. I’d expect him to get a homegrown deal in the near future and also get a call from the USYNT. 

Etienne Veillard, Seattle Sounders (2007)

Etienne is another 2007 that played up in this tournament. He scored the second goal for Seattle in the U17 finals. He’s a pacey and hard working winger that was a nuisance all tournament long

https://twitter.com/SoundersAcademy/status/1515875769863475203?s=20&t=bXEVlYd42tJ7wYmsGNz7Ig

Strikers

Nelson Pierre, Philadelphia Union (2005)

I only saw Nelson for about 30 minutes vs Flamengo, but he was super impressive and an absolute load for the Brazilian side to handle. He has a rare blend of power and speed, reminiscent of Daryl Dike. He also had a goal that was Dike like with nice off ball movement and a killer finish from a tricky angle. Pierre is playing consistently with Union II and is a striker that the USMNT community should be excited about. 

https://twitter.com/USMNTZ/status/1513962637310107648?s=20&t=bXEVlYd42tJ7wYmsGNz7Ig
Bryan Destin, Inter Miami (2006)

Destin is a player I knew little about before the tournament, but I was left impressed. He scored a beautiful goal against River in a match where he had a brace. In that match he also showed some of the best hold up play you will see at this level. He knows how to use his strong frame to hold off defenders and keep the ball in a position that the defender cannot disrupt. From there he was effective in buying time for his teammates to enter the attack and find them in good positions. I’d love to see Destin with the USYNT U17s in the next camp. They need a target striker like Destin. 

Diego Rodriguez, Austin FC (2006)

Diego isn’t typically a starter for Austin’s U17s, but with Cruz Mesa out with an injury, he saw a lot of minutes in this tournament. I was impressed with his skill on the ball and his ability to make plays for his teammates.

Axel Kei, Real Salt Lake (2007)

I didn’t see much of Axel in the match I watched, but his physical profile at his age is undeniable. He and Christian McFarlane are the only two 2007s on homegrown deals. 

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USMNT

Voices of USMNT on the World Stage

Published

4 days ago

on

May 11, 2026

By

Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)

Over the decades, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team has been accompanied by a wide range of voices behind the microphone, delivering some of the most memorable calls in World Cup history.

Along the way, several standout broadcast duos have helped shape the viewing experience and left a lasting mark on the USMNT landscape.

Here’s a look back at the voices that have defined US World Cup broadcasts since 1990.

1990 FIFA World Cup – Italy 

Network: ESPN

Play-by-play: Bob Ley

Color: Paul Gardner

Coverage of the USMNT at the 1990 World Cup was limited, particularly in the early rounds, but Bob Ley emerged as one of the defining voices of soccer on U.S. television during that era. His presence helped introduce a new generation of American fans to the international game, providing context and credibility at a time when the global stage still felt unfamiliar to much of the US audience.

1994 FIFA World Cup – United States of America

1998 FIFA World Cup – France

2002 FIFA World Cup – Japan / South Korea

Networks: ABC / ESPN

Play-by-play: JP Dellacamera

Color: Ty Keough

This play-by-play and color commentary duo called three World Cups for the USMNT, becoming the defining voice of the team during my peak viewing years. Ty Keough the former USMNT midfielder from the late 1970s and early 1980s.

JP Dellacamera stands out as one of, if not the, best play-by-play announcers and remains one of my favorites. While others on this list delivered memorable moments, they didn’t quite match that same level of longevity.

2006 FIFA World Cup – Germany 

Networks: ABC / ESPN

Play-by-play: Dave O’Brien

Color: Marcelo Balboa

New England native Dave O’Brien, widely known today for calling major sports across his career, had just one World Cup as the primary play-by-play voice for the USMNT. His run calling USMNT matches, primarily in the mid-2000s on ESPN, was relatively brief but still memorable. While he isn’t as closely associated with the USMNT as some other broadcasters, he was behind the mic for several standout moments during that era.

2010 FIFA World Cup – South Korea

Network: ESPN

Play-by-play: Ian Darke

Color: John Harkes

Ian Darke brought a global voice to American audiences as the lead play-by-play announcer for the USMNT during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Already well known around the world, he made the tournament easy to connect with for U.S. fans and delivered one of the most iconic calls in American soccer history.

Darke’s iconic call of the USMNT game winning goal by Landon Donovan in must win final group stage match against Algeria to advance to the knockout stage of the 2010 World Cup gives me chills every time I see it.

2014 FIFA World Cup – Brazil 

Networks: ESPN / ABC

Play-by-play: Ian Darke

Color: Taylor Twellman

This duo might be my favorite to date. Ian Darke brought a clear, global voice to USMNT viewers during the 2014 FIFA World Cup, making the tournament easy to follow for US fans while elevating the biggest moments with calm, sharp, and memorable calls.

Alongside him, Taylor Twellman emerged as one of the most recognizable and influential voices of the modern era, primarily as a lead analyst on ESPN. His passionate, unfiltered style stood out, most notably with his unforgettable “What are we doing?!” reaction following the USMNT’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, a moment that’s still talked about today.

2022 FIFA World Cup – Qatar

Network: FOX Sports

Play-by-play: John Strong

Color: Stu Holden

If the USMNT had qualified for the 2018 World Cup, this broadcast team would have called their matches, marking what would have been a third straight World Cup cycle with the same primary commentary crew. It’s also likely he’ll be paired again with Stu Holden for USMNT matches at the 2026 World Cup.

John Strong has served as a lead play-by-play voice for U.S. soccer on FOX Sports since 2018, bringing a modern, high-energy style to the booth. Since taking on major international assignments, he’s become one of the defining voices for USMNT audiences in top competitions, known for his clear, sharp calls and a big-game tone that fits the moment.

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The Expanding Impact of MLS on the World Cup

Published

2 weeks ago

on

May 4, 2026

By

The growth and success of Major League Soccer has led to more players from around the world representing MLS at the World Cup, with this summer’s tournament expected to feature the highest total yet.

1998 was the first World Cup played after the launch of Major League Soccer. Here’s a breakdown of MLS-based players on World Cup rosters by year:

1998 – 18 (T-8th)
Tied with Liga MX for 8th most. This would the first and only time the USMNT World Cup roster  

2002 – 11 (18th)
All 11 were from the USMNT

2006 – 15 (14th)
11 of the 15 were #USMNT players.

2010 – 6 (25th)
The lowest total to date. Only 6 MLS players, with 4 on the USMNT. This coincided with the peak of US players based in Europe.

2014 – 21 (10th)
Less than half were USMNT players, though the US still led the way the 10 most notably DeAndre Yedlin (20) getting the call.

2018 – 18 (11th)
This number likely would’ve been significantly higher had the USMNT qualified, potentially pushing MLS into the top 7–8 leagues.

2022 – 36 (6th)
The highest total yet, just behind Ligue 1 for 5th. Also worth noting, rosters expanded from 23 to 26 players for this tournament and the first time that the USA didn’t have the most players 

Overall, the trend shows steady growth in MLS representation, both domestically and internationally.

MLS Pipeline Continues for the USMNT

It’s rare for a World Cup–qualified nation not to have a strong share of its players featured across tournament rosters. Canada was a recent exception in 2022, though their ties to MLS remain significant with multiple clubs in the league.

With roster selection less than a month away, it’s reasonable to expect that roughly a third of the #USMNT squad will come from MLS. Below is a positional breakdown of the MLS players Mauricio Pochettino has called in during his tenure as USMNT manager.

Goalkeepers

The USMNT is set to start an MLS-based goalkeeper at a World Cup for the first time, with all of the top options currently playing in MLS.

Chris Brady is one of the goalkeepers I’m most excited to watch in the coming cycles. He’s been performing at a high level in Major League Soccer and looks like a strong candidate to fill the long-term role as the USMNT’s primary starter over the next few cycles.

Chris Brady
Roman Celentano
Matt Freese
Patrick Schulte
Matt Turner

Defenders

Veteran center-backs Tim Ream and Miles Robinson seem likely to be selected with Blackmon a possibility depending on the health of the remaining pool. Arfsten seems to be almost a lock due to his ability to attack and create scoring chances with his crosses from the wing.

Max Arfsten
Tristan Blackmon
Tim Ream
Miles Robinson

Midfielders

The USMNT has strong depth in midfield, and Mauricio Pochettino’s recent roster selections suggest he’ll likely round out the squad with some of the players listed below.

One of the biggest gaps in this USMNT roster is the true dynamic, creative spark in the attacking third. Diego Luna stands out in that role, capable of unsettling defenses, breaking lines, and changing the rhythm of a match. He’s exactly the type of player who could thrive in a super-sub role, coming on against tired legs and making an impact at this summer’s World Cup.

Sebastian Berhalter
Diego Luna
Jack McGlynn
Cristian Roldan
Timothy Tillman

Forwards

Striker may be the toughest position for the MLS group to crack the #USMNT World Cup roster, but Brian White is making a strong case, scoring eight goals in his first nine MLS matches at the time of writing.

Brian White is a highly productive, “old-school” style striker for the USMNT, known for his elite positioning, relentless work rate, and ability to finish in a variety of ways. That combination makes him a strong option as a striker off the bench, where he could be especially dangerous against tired defenses at this summer’s World Cup.

Paxten Aaronson
Josh Sargent
Brian White

MLS Representation in the USMNT Player Pool

Since 1998, the last time the majority of a USMNT World Cup roster was composed primarily of MLS-based players, it has become increasingly clear that a meaningful portion of the squad still comes from MLS. Consistently, roughly 30–40% of the roster has been drawn from the domestic league, reflecting a long-standing and relatively stable trend in player selection over time which I don’t seen changing anytime soon.

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USMNT

The More Things Change, The More They Remain the Same

Published

4 weeks ago

on

April 20, 2026

By

Thomas Deschaine (@uskeeper on X and us_keeper on Instagram)

In light of the recent resignation of Matt Crocker, I revisited something I wrote nearly a decade ago, an early attempt to capture what I called the “Dark Decades of US Soccer.” At the time, the piece was overly long and packed with detail—probably more than today’s audience would stick with.

But buried in that work were meaningful patterns, clear, recurring behaviors that shaped how the federation operated more than 60 years ago. What stood out most, looking back now, is how familiar some of those patterns still feel today.

So, I went back, stripped the piece down, and pulled out the most relevant sections, those that highlight the parallels between past and present. The goal isn’t to draw conclusions for you, but to put those similarities side by side and let you decide: how much has really changed?

World Cup Momentum to the First American Soccer Boom

Soccer star Pele in action during World Cup competition.

Photo of Pele at the 1966 World Cup
Photograph: AP Photo

After the success and popularity of the 1966 World Cup which saw over one million viewers of the tournament many America investors saw the vision and believed that there was the market for soccer in the United States and Canada. 

The investors moved very quickly and in 1967 there were two American professional leagues making their debuts the USSFA-sanctioned United Soccer Association (USA) and the independent National Professional Soccer League (NPSL).  

These leagues would only last one year and be merged at the request of FIFA into the North American Soccer League (NASL) kicking off in 1968 and relying on mainly on foreign talent. The American investors believed building the interest in soccer in the US would have a direct impact on the growth and performance of the US Men’s National team which and of course more money for the investors and federation.

First Attempt at Modernizing the USMNT

Phil Woosnam, in 1977 as the commissioner of the NASL.
Photograph: AP Photo

Off the back of the success of the inaugural NASL season, the U.S. Soccer Federation appointed Phil Woosnam, fresh off leading the Atlanta Chiefs to a championship and earning Coach of the Year honors, to take charge of the U.S. Men’s National Team.

Woosnam immediately shifted the structure of the program. Instead of a player pool selected by committee, he pushed decision-making toward the coaching staff, allowing selections to be based on performance and fit rather than geography or internal bias. The move was not universally welcomed, and it reportedly created friction with members of the federation’s leadership.

With professional players now more fully available, Woosnam’s approach helped assemble what was widely considered the strongest possible squad at the time. He also introduced organized training camps ahead of friendlies and World Cup qualifiers, an uncommon practice in that era, but one that clearly improved cohesion and preparation. Those changes contributed to the U.S. advancing further in World Cup qualifying than it had in previous cycles.

By early 1969, the USMNT appeared to be building real momentum toward a potential place in the 1970 World Cup. However, tensions between Woosnam and the federation began to escalate. Frustrated with compensation issues and growing interference from the USSF in team operations, Woosnam stepped away from the national team in the spring of 1969. become commissioner of the NASL.

Following his departure, assistant coach Gordon Jago took over as manager. His tenure began under difficult circumstances, with not being able to set up pre-qualifying friendlies, an important part of the progress made under Woosnam along with interference from USSF board members as it related to roster selection which created instability and morale issues on the field. The USMNT struggled in qualifying and ultimately fell short, losing both matches to Haiti, a team they had previously been competitive with in a series of friendlies in 1968.

The Crocker Era: Coaching Chaos and Course Corrections

Photo of Cindy Parlow Cone, Gregg Berhalter, Matt Crocker and JT Batson
Photograph: AP Photo/Lucas Peliter

It’s been roughly three years since the Matt Crocker era began at U.S. Soccer, when he stepped in as Sporting Director, replacing Earnie Stewart.

One of Crocker’s first major responsibilities was hiring the next U.S. Men’s National Team manager. In the previous cycle, the federation had reportedly operated with a narrow set of internal criteria, preferences widely believed to favor English-speaking and American candidates, which significantly limited the coaching pool and shaped the direction of the search.

Roughly two months later, during the Concacaf Nations League semifinal window, it was announced that Gregg Berhalter would be reappointed as USMNT head coach. The decision caught many around the program and in the media off guard, raising questions about how the process had ultimately unfolded.

More recently, in an interview with GiveMeSport, Jesse Marsch stated he was effectively told he was set to become the next USMNT head coach in the late spring of 2023, only for that opportunity to be withdrawn at the last moment, a shift that reportedly had ripple effects on a potential move to Leicester City that was nearing completion.

The abrupt reversal and eventual rehiring of Berhalter has been widely attributed to a mix of factors, including rumored influence from within the player pool, with U.S. Soccer ultimately reversing course. Roughly a year later, after a disappointing Copa América campaign on home soil, Berhalter was dismissed.

Crocker’s second opportunity to reset the program took a different direction. He first secured the high-profile appointment of Emma Hayes, one of the most accomplished managers in women’s football, to lead the USWNT. That move was followed by the hiring of Mauricio Pochettino for the USMNT, a tenure that has delivered mixed early results and will ultimately be judged through the lens of the 2026 World Cup on home soil but truly disappointed that Crocker wouldn’t see through what he helped build, and you have to ask yourself why?

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