American soccer legend Landon Donovan has criticized Matt Crocker for leaving his position as U.S. Soccer's sporting director before the World Cup. Donovan stated that he felt Crocker was not fully invested in his position and that if he didn't want to be here, it was good for him to leave. Crocker had been in the position since 2023 after Earnie Stewart left to take over a sporting role with PSV Eindhoven. The news comes just before the start of the tournament.