On the Pitch
On the Pitch
On the Pitch
On the Pitch
U.S. Soccer Podcast: Inside The USMNT's World Cup Preparations with Matt Crocker
Sporting director Matt Crocker joins the show to preview the next several months for U.S. Soccer as head coach Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
By: U.S. Soccer Podcast
We’re months away from the first group stage match for the Americans against Paraguay on June 12 at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. So, what comes next? Sporting Director Matt Crocker joins the show to take us behind the scenes of U.S. Soccer’s preparations in the months ahead and the belief building around the USMNT, which enters 2026 on a five-match unbeaten streak.
00:37 – Intro with David Gass and Meghan Klingenberg
04:45 – Gass and Kling interview Matt Crocker
08 46 – The process of scouting Paraguay and Australia
09:55 – How the sporting department works with USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino
12:45 – On how the staff can prepare for a team yet to be determined in UEFA Playoff C
14:45 – Crocker's assessment of wins over Australia in October and Paraguay in November
17:20 – The competitive advantage we don't realize the U.S. has playing on home soil
20:30 – The ‘traveling circus’ of a World Cup camp and building the best environment for the players
24:00 – How U.S. Soccer embraces the families along for the ride
26:20 – Changing to a 48-team tournament
27:35 – “Our objective is to win the World Cup”
29:10 – “I'm a snotty-nosed little soccer kid from Wales”
31:50 – Learn more about U.S. Soccer’s ‘Never Chase Reality’ campaign
33:00 – How the 2026 FIFA World Cup and upcoming tournaments will give U.S. Soccer the platform to grow and elevate soccer in America
38:10 – Ask the Pros presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts
The U.S. Soccer Podcast is a production from U.S. Soccer hosted by David Gass, Meghan Klingenberg and Alejandro Bedoya. The podcast brings you in-depth interviews with U.S. Soccer stars of the past, present and future. Episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays.
To learn more, visit http://www.ussoccer.com/podcast
For more on Matt Crocker, visit https://www.ussoccer.com/executive-leadership/matt-crocker
