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Deadspin | Report: U.S. Soccer sporting director leaves for role with Saudi Arabia Dec 5, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino, United States president Donald Trump, Mexico president Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canada prime minister Mark Carney take a selfie on stage during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images Matt Crocker is leaving his position as U.S. Soccer’s sporting director to take a similar role with Saudi Arabia, Fox Sports reported. The move, which is effective immediately, comes approximately two months ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Per Fox Sports, assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, head of women’s development Tracey Kevins and Dan Helfrich, the organization’s COO, will take on Crocker’s responsibilities in the interim. Crocker has spent nearly the last three years in his position with the U.S. Soccer Federation, notably helping recruit women’s national team coach Emma Hayes and men’s coach Mauricio Pochettino. The U.S. men kick off World Cup group play against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles. The Americans will also play Australia on June 19 in Seattle and Turkey on June 25 back in Los Angeles. “I anticipate zero impact on World Cup preparation as a result of Matt’s decision,” Helfrich told Fox Sports on Monday. “Mauricio and his staff have full control of the preparations for this summer’s tournament, and we have full confidence in them. This transition in no way impacts those plans, which have been long-established.” Nasser Larguet is expected to leave his position as Saudi Arabia’s technical director this month, multiple media outlets reported. “If you’re going to compete at the highest levels in the sporting world, you expect that team members will have other opportunities,” Helfrich told Fox Sports. “Soccer in our country and the federation overall are in a better place than several years ago when Matt joined, and we’re grateful to him for those contributions.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Report #U.S #Soccer #sporting #director #leaves #role #Saudi #Arabia

Deadspin | Report: U.S. Soccer sporting director leaves for role with Saudi Arabia
Deadspin | Report: U.S. Soccer sporting director leaves for role with Saudi Arabia Dec 5, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino, United States president Donald Trump, Mexico president Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canada prime minister Mark Carney take a selfie on stage during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images Matt Crocker is leaving his position as U.S. Soccer’s sporting director to take a similar role with Saudi Arabia, Fox Sports reported. The move, which is effective immediately, comes approximately two months ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Per Fox Sports, assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, head of women’s development Tracey Kevins and Dan Helfrich, the organization’s COO, will take on Crocker’s responsibilities in the interim. Crocker has spent nearly the last three years in his position with the U.S. Soccer Federation, notably helping recruit women’s national team coach Emma Hayes and men’s coach Mauricio Pochettino. The U.S. men kick off World Cup group play against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles. The Americans will also play Australia on June 19 in Seattle and Turkey on June 25 back in Los Angeles. “I anticipate zero impact on World Cup preparation as a result of Matt’s decision,” Helfrich told Fox Sports on Monday. “Mauricio and his staff have full control of the preparations for this summer’s tournament, and we have full confidence in them. This transition in no way impacts those plans, which have been long-established.” Nasser Larguet is expected to leave his position as Saudi Arabia’s technical director this month, multiple media outlets reported. “If you’re going to compete at the highest levels in the sporting world, you expect that team members will have other opportunities,” Helfrich told Fox Sports. “Soccer in our country and the federation overall are in a better place than several years ago when Matt joined, and we’re grateful to him for those contributions.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Report #U.S #Soccer #sporting #director #leaves #role #Saudi #ArabiaDec 5, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino, United States president Donald Trump, Mexico president Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canada prime minister Mark Carney take a selfie on stage during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Matt Crocker is leaving his position as U.S. Soccer’s sporting director to take a similar role with Saudi Arabia, Fox Sports reported.

The move, which is effective immediately, comes approximately two months ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Per Fox Sports, assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, head of women’s development Tracey Kevins and Dan Helfrich, the organization’s COO, will take on Crocker’s responsibilities in the interim.

Crocker has spent nearly the last three years in his position with the U.S. Soccer Federation, notably helping recruit women’s national team coach Emma Hayes and men’s coach Mauricio Pochettino.


The U.S. men kick off World Cup group play against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles. The Americans will also play Australia on June 19 in Seattle and Turkey on June 25 back in Los Angeles.

“I anticipate zero impact on World Cup preparation as a result of Matt’s decision,” Helfrich told Fox Sports on Monday. “Mauricio and his staff have full control of the preparations for this summer’s tournament, and we have full confidence in them. This transition in no way impacts those plans, which have been long-established.”

Nasser Larguet is expected to leave his position as Saudi Arabia’s technical director this month, multiple media outlets reported.

“If you’re going to compete at the highest levels in the sporting world, you expect that team members will have other opportunities,” Helfrich told Fox Sports. “Soccer in our country and the federation overall are in a better place than several years ago when Matt joined, and we’re grateful to him for those contributions.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Report #U.S #Soccer #sporting #director #leaves #role #Saudi #Arabia

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Dec 5, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino, United States president Donald Trump, Mexico president Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canada prime minister Mark Carney take a selfie on stage during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Matt Crocker is leaving his position as U.S. Soccer’s sporting director to take a similar role with Saudi Arabia, Fox Sports reported.

The move, which is effective immediately, comes approximately two months ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Per Fox Sports, assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, head of women’s development Tracey Kevins and Dan Helfrich, the organization’s COO, will take on Crocker’s responsibilities in the interim.

Crocker has spent nearly the last three years in his position with the U.S. Soccer Federation, notably helping recruit women’s national team coach Emma Hayes and men’s coach Mauricio Pochettino.

The U.S. men kick off World Cup group play against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles. The Americans will also play Australia on June 19 in Seattle and Turkey on June 25 back in Los Angeles.

“I anticipate zero impact on World Cup preparation as a result of Matt’s decision,” Helfrich told Fox Sports on Monday. “Mauricio and his staff have full control of the preparations for this summer’s tournament, and we have full confidence in them. This transition in no way impacts those plans, which have been long-established.”

Nasser Larguet is expected to leave his position as Saudi Arabia’s technical director this month, multiple media outlets reported.

“If you’re going to compete at the highest levels in the sporting world, you expect that team members will have other opportunities,” Helfrich told Fox Sports. “Soccer in our country and the federation overall are in a better place than several years ago when Matt joined, and we’re grateful to him for those contributions.”

–Field Level Media

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Bundesliga 2025-26: Bayern manager Kompany hails Marie-Louise Eta’s appointment as ‘something special’ <div id="content-body-70862338" itemprop="articleBody"><p>The appointment of Marie-Louise Eta as interim coach of Union Berlin — ​the first woman to coach a top-flight team ‌in Germany — is a special moment that ​will open doors for young girls ⁠in the sport, Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany said on Tuesday.</p><p>On Saturday Eta became the first female coach ‌to lead a Bundesliga team when she was appointed as interim coach at ‌Union.</p><p>“I am actually really happy (with Eta’s ‌appointment),” ⁠Kompany told a press conference ahead of ⁠its Champions League return leg against Real Madrid on Wednesday.</p><p>“I think these are key moments. It is easy to ​minimise them and ‌say ‘she is just a coach like everybody else and that is how we have to treat her as colleagues’.</p><p>“But in the end ‌it is something special,” the Belgian added. “It ​opens a lot of opportunities to little girls who now play football and ⁠think ‘I can coach anywhere, make a real career and be successful’. These stories are really important.</p><p>“I ‌wish her all the best and the only part I wish she is not treated like a man, is being patient with her, because the coaching job lacks patience on the leadership level.”</p><p><b>ALSO READ: <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/champions-league/bayern-munich-vs-real-madrid-uefa-champions-league-2025-26-second-leg-manuel-neuer-comments-press-conference/article70862164.ece" target="_self">UCL 2025-26 — Bayern in driving seat but wounded Real Madrid could be dangerous, says Manuel Neuer</a></b></p><p>The 34-year-old Eta had been ‌coaching Union’s Under-19 team and will take charge of the ​club’s women’s team from next season. She became the first female assistant coach ⁠in the German top flight with Union in ⁠2023.</p><p>Union Berlin on Monday condemned sexist online abuse directed at Eta following her appointment, ‌saying it was disappointing that the club had to respond to such criticism in ​2026, calling the discourse “insane” and “embarrassing”.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 14, 2026</p></div> #Bundesliga #Bayern #manager #Kompany #hails #MarieLouise #Etas #appointment #special

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Deadspin | Marta Kostyuk to put clay-court streak on line against Iga Swiatek in Paris Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk her third round match against Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic at the French Open on May 29, 2026. Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, who has not lost on the clay courts this season, advanced to the fourth round of the French Open on Friday in Paris — with four-time champion Iga Swiatek her next opponent. The 15th-seeded Kostyuk won titles on the clay courts in Madrid and Rouen leading up to the French Open. She advanced with a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland. Swiatek, the third seed, most recently won the title at Roland Garros in 2024. She defeated Magda Linette 6-4, 6-4 in an all-Polish match on Friday to advance. With the win, she avenged her three-set loss to Linette earlier this year in Miami. Swiatek has yet to win a tournament on clay this season and has a record of 9-3. Her most recent title on any surface came last September in Seoul. Kostyuk had an optimistic tone in her post-match news conference, even though she has lost all three career matchups against Swiatek and hasn’t won a set from her. “I definitely have a different feeling going into this match,” she said. “Because I feel like last time that I played her in Cincinnati, I lost this match way before it even started, and I don’t feel the same this time.” Swiatek also won the tournament in 2020 before three straight victories from 2022-24 and is 43-3 overall at Roland Garros. Only Chris Evert (seven) and Steffi Graf (six) have more singles titles in Paris during the Open Era. Kostyuk knows that history, too. “She’s won this tournament four times. I would love to be the one who is a favorite in this match, but I still don’t think it’s the case, even though I have this really long streak,” the Ukrainian said. “But it’s not going to ruin my day or ruin my game. I still want to go out and try my best and enjoy. Like, I have never taken a set off her. Even if I win one set in the next match, I’m going to be very happy. That’s how I look at it, and I’m excited for this match.” Other winners Friday were eighth-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia, who defeated Czech 27th seed Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-2. In the fourth round, she will face Jil Teichmann of Switzerland, who upset 10th-seeded Karolina Muchova of Czechia 6-1, 7-5. Sorana Cirstea of Romania, the 18th seed, shut out Solana Sierra of Argentina 6-0, 6-0 to set up a fourth-round meeting with Xiyu Wang of China, who produced a 6-3, 7-5 win over Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva. Seventh-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine ousted Tamara Korpatsch of Germany 6-2, 6-3. She will play 11th-seeded Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, who sailed 6-3, 6-3 past Peyton Stearns. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Marta #Kostyuk #put #claycourt #streak #line #Iga #Swiatek #ParisUkraine’s Marta Kostyuk her third round match against Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic at the French Open on May 29, 2026.

Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, who has not lost on the clay courts this season, advanced to the fourth round of the French Open on Friday in Paris — with four-time champion Iga Swiatek her next opponent.

The 15th-seeded Kostyuk won titles on the clay courts in Madrid and Rouen leading up to the French Open. She advanced with a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland.

Swiatek, the third seed, most recently won the title at Roland Garros in 2024. She defeated Magda Linette 6-4, 6-4 in an all-Polish match on Friday to advance. With the win, she avenged her three-set loss to Linette earlier this year in Miami.

Swiatek has yet to win a tournament on clay this season and has a record of 9-3. Her most recent title on any surface came last September in Seoul.

Kostyuk had an optimistic tone in her post-match news conference, even though she has lost all three career matchups against Swiatek and hasn’t won a set from her.

“I definitely have a different feeling going into this match,” she said. “Because I feel like last time that I played her in Cincinnati, I lost this match way before it even started, and I don’t feel the same this time.”


Swiatek also won the tournament in 2020 before three straight victories from 2022-24 and is 43-3 overall at Roland Garros. Only Chris Evert (seven) and Steffi Graf (six) have more singles titles in Paris during the Open Era.

Kostyuk knows that history, too.

“She’s won this tournament four times. I would love to be the one who is a favorite in this match, but I still don’t think it’s the case, even though I have this really long streak,” the Ukrainian said. “But it’s not going to ruin my day or ruin my game. I still want to go out and try my best and enjoy. Like, I have never taken a set off her. Even if I win one set in the next match, I’m going to be very happy. That’s how I look at it, and I’m excited for this match.”

Other winners Friday were eighth-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia, who defeated Czech 27th seed Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-2. In the fourth round, she will face Jil Teichmann of Switzerland, who upset 10th-seeded Karolina Muchova of Czechia 6-1, 7-5.

Sorana Cirstea of Romania, the 18th seed, shut out Solana Sierra of Argentina 6-0, 6-0 to set up a fourth-round meeting with Xiyu Wang of China, who produced a 6-3, 7-5 win over Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva.

Seventh-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine ousted Tamara Korpatsch of Germany 6-2, 6-3. She will play 11th-seeded Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, who sailed 6-3, 6-3 past Peyton Stearns.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Marta #Kostyuk #put #claycourt #streak #line #Iga #Swiatek #Paris">Deadspin | Marta Kostyuk to put clay-court streak on line against Iga Swiatek in Paris Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk her third round match against Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic at the French Open on May 29, 2026. Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, who has not lost on the clay courts this season, advanced to the fourth round of the French Open on Friday in Paris — with four-time champion Iga Swiatek her next opponent. The 15th-seeded Kostyuk won titles on the clay courts in Madrid and Rouen leading up to the French Open. She advanced with a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland. Swiatek, the third seed, most recently won the title at Roland Garros in 2024. She defeated Magda Linette 6-4, 6-4 in an all-Polish match on Friday to advance. With the win, she avenged her three-set loss to Linette earlier this year in Miami. Swiatek has yet to win a tournament on clay this season and has a record of 9-3. Her most recent title on any surface came last September in Seoul. Kostyuk had an optimistic tone in her post-match news conference, even though she has lost all three career matchups against Swiatek and hasn’t won a set from her. “I definitely have a different feeling going into this match,” she said. “Because I feel like last time that I played her in Cincinnati, I lost this match way before it even started, and I don’t feel the same this time.” Swiatek also won the tournament in 2020 before three straight victories from 2022-24 and is 43-3 overall at Roland Garros. Only Chris Evert (seven) and Steffi Graf (six) have more singles titles in Paris during the Open Era. Kostyuk knows that history, too. “She’s won this tournament four times. I would love to be the one who is a favorite in this match, but I still don’t think it’s the case, even though I have this really long streak,” the Ukrainian said. “But it’s not going to ruin my day or ruin my game. I still want to go out and try my best and enjoy. Like, I have never taken a set off her. Even if I win one set in the next match, I’m going to be very happy. That’s how I look at it, and I’m excited for this match.” Other winners Friday were eighth-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia, who defeated Czech 27th seed Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-2. In the fourth round, she will face Jil Teichmann of Switzerland, who upset 10th-seeded Karolina Muchova of Czechia 6-1, 7-5. Sorana Cirstea of Romania, the 18th seed, shut out Solana Sierra of Argentina 6-0, 6-0 to set up a fourth-round meeting with Xiyu Wang of China, who produced a 6-3, 7-5 win over Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva. Seventh-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine ousted Tamara Korpatsch of Germany 6-2, 6-3. She will play 11th-seeded Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, who sailed 6-3, 6-3 past Peyton Stearns. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Marta #Kostyuk #put #claycourt #streak #line #Iga #Swiatek #Paris

On Selection Monday, the Auburn Tigers were slotted in as the fourth overall team in the NCAA baseball field, thanks to a 38-19 overall record against the toughest schedule in all of college baseball. Their reward? A spot as a regional host, and a first-game date with Milwaukee out of the Horizon League, a 25-31 team that secured a spot in the field after winning the conference tournament.

Even better, Auburn would be sending left-hander Jake Marciano to the mound, he of the 2.65 ERA and 0.97 WHIP.

To say things were set up well for the Tigers would be putting it mildly. But by the top of the first inning the Panthers had put six runs on the board, Marciano was already in the showers, and Milwaukee was on its way to a stunning 13-8 win, putting Auburn on the brink of elimination.

The Panthers hung four runs on the board in the top of the first. A single from designated hitter Dom Kibler brought two runs home, staking Milwaukee to the early lead. That brought left fielder Bradyn Horn to the dish with a pair of runners aboard.

In the blink of an eye, it was 4-0 Panthers:

It was the fifth home run of the year for Horn, and an unexpected start to the contest. And after keeping the Tigers scoreless in the bottom of the first, Milwaukee chased Marciano in the top of the second with two more runs.

Milwaukee held a 6-0 lead in the top of the fourth, when they broke into double digits. Third baseman Grant Ross singled to bring home Connor Bozak, bringing Charlie Marion to the plate with a pair of Panthers aboard.

That’s when Marion blasted his 13th home run of the season:

Auburn would start chipping away at Milwaukee’s lead, and a blast from Eric Guevara in the bottom of the seventh cut the Panthers’ advantage to 12-7. And the Tigers got out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, when Jett Johnston struck out Horn to keep Auburn within five.

But the Tigers could not complete the comeback.

Riley Peterson held Auburn scoreless in the eighth, retiring the side in order with a strikeout and a pair of groundouts. Milwaukee pushed another run across in the ninth, when Marion walked with the bases loaded, the fourth walk given up by Auburn pitchers in the frame.

The Tigers loaded the bases in the ninth and got a sacrifice fly from Guevara to cut the score to 13-8, but Peterson got catcher Chase Fralick to line out to center for the final out.

The celebration was on in the Panthers’ dugout.

For Milwaukee, it was just the second NCAA tournament win in program history, the first coming back in 1999 when the Panthers knocked off Rice. Milwaukee finished the afternoon having gone 8-for-16 with runners in scoring position, and the 13 runs were the most scored by the team in their NCAA tournament history.

As for the Tigers, they became just the sixth top four national seed in NCAA tournament history to lose a regional opener, joining Alabama (No. 3, 2002), Georgia Tech (No. 3, 2003), Florida State (No. 4, 2008), Baylor (No. 4, 2012), Florida (No. 2, 2014), and North Carolina (No. 2, 2017).

The Tigers will hope to join an even smaller list with Florida State and Baylor, as those two teams still went on to win their regional.

Milwaukee will take on the winner of No. 3 NC State and No. 2 UCF, while Auburn will face the loser of that contest in an elimination game.

#NCAA #baseball #tournament #Milwaukee #stuns #Auburn">NCAA baseball tournament 2026: Milwaukee stuns Auburn On Selection Monday, the Auburn Tigers were slotted in as the fourth overall team in the NCAA baseball field, thanks to a 38-19 overall record against the toughest schedule in all of college baseball. Their reward? A spot as a regional host, and a first-game date with Milwaukee out of the Horizon League, a 25-31 team that secured a spot in the field after winning the conference tournament.Even better, Auburn would be sending left-hander Jake Marciano to the mound, he of the 2.65 ERA and 0.97 WHIP.To say things were set up well for the Tigers would be putting it mildly. But by the top of the first inning the Panthers had put six runs on the board, Marciano was already in the showers, and Milwaukee was on its way to a stunning 13-8 win, putting Auburn on the brink of elimination.The Panthers hung four runs on the board in the top of the first. A single from designated hitter Dom Kibler brought two runs home, staking Milwaukee to the early lead. That brought left fielder Bradyn Horn to the dish with a pair of runners aboard.In the blink of an eye, it was 4-0 Panthers:It was the fifth home run of the year for Horn, and an unexpected start to the contest. And after keeping the Tigers scoreless in the bottom of the first, Milwaukee chased Marciano in the top of the second with two more runs.Milwaukee held a 6-0 lead in the top of the fourth, when they broke into double digits. Third baseman Grant Ross singled to bring home Connor Bozak, bringing Charlie Marion to the plate with a pair of Panthers aboard.That’s when Marion blasted his 13th home run of the season:Auburn would start chipping away at Milwaukee’s lead, and a blast from Eric Guevara in the bottom of the seventh cut the Panthers’ advantage to 12-7. And the Tigers got out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, when Jett Johnston struck out Horn to keep Auburn within five.But the Tigers could not complete the comeback.Riley Peterson held Auburn scoreless in the eighth, retiring the side in order with a strikeout and a pair of groundouts. Milwaukee pushed another run across in the ninth, when Marion walked with the bases loaded, the fourth walk given up by Auburn pitchers in the frame.The Tigers loaded the bases in the ninth and got a sacrifice fly from Guevara to cut the score to 13-8, but Peterson got catcher Chase Fralick to line out to center for the final out.The celebration was on in the Panthers’ dugout.For Milwaukee, it was just the second NCAA tournament win in program history, the first coming back in 1999 when the Panthers knocked off Rice. Milwaukee finished the afternoon having gone 8-for-16 with runners in scoring position, and the 13 runs were the most scored by the team in their NCAA tournament history.As for the Tigers, they became just the sixth top four national seed in NCAA tournament history to lose a regional opener, joining Alabama (No. 3, 2002), Georgia Tech (No. 3, 2003), Florida State (No. 4, 2008), Baylor (No. 4, 2012), Florida (No. 2, 2014), and North Carolina (No. 2, 2017).The Tigers will hope to join an even smaller list with Florida State and Baylor, as those two teams still went on to win their regional.Milwaukee will take on the winner of No. 3 NC State and No. 2 UCF, while Auburn will face the loser of that contest in an elimination game. #NCAA #baseball #tournament #Milwaukee #stuns #Auburn

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