Javier Mascherano stepped down as Inter Miami head coach, leaving Lionel Messi and his teammates in an unexpected situation. This Tuesday, Inter Miami were hit with news that shakes their stability and raises questions about the future: Javier Mascherano has stepped down as head coach, leaving a void to fill for Lionel Messi and his teammates for the remainder of the 2026 Major League Soccer season. “Inter Miami CF head coach Javier Mascherano announced today his decision to step down as the Club’s head coach for personal reasons,” the club announced in a statement on its official website. “Mascherano departs the Club along with the coaching staff that arrived with him in January 2024.” Mascherano’s departure comes as a surprise given the timing. Fewer than three months have passed since the start of the 2026 season, and there is still plenty left to play for, with Inter Miami still competing in MLS—currently sitting third in the Eastern Conference—and with the Leagues Cup yet to be played. However, the Herons’ performances and results at the start of this year have fallen short of those in 2025. The early elimination against Nashville SC in the Concacaf Champions Cup was a major blow for the club, and their recent showings in league play have also been underwhelming. Javier Mascherano has decided to bring his tenure as Head Coach to an end. A champion who, together with his staff, will always be part of the @InterMiamiCF family and forever linked to our first star. 🔗 https://t.co/fHUABSFBhp pic.twitter.com/LFJ61zB6y3 — Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) April 14, 2026 Even so, Mascherano’s tenure at Inter Miami remains extremely positive overall. He led the club to its first MLS title last year, an achievement that had eluded them during Messi’s early years in the United States. In addition, they advanced to the knockout stages of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup after defeating European giants Porto, in what stands as the most important victory in club history. Mascherano explains his decision to step down from Inter Miami In the same statement published on the club’s official website, Inter Miami shared comments from Javier Mascherano explaining the reasons behind his decision to leave the club in the middle of the 2026 season. “I want to let everyone know that, for personal reasons, I have decided to end my tenure as head coach of Inter Miami CF,” began the Argentine coach. “I would like to thank the Club for the trust they placed in me… I also want to thank the fans and La Familia, because none of this would have been possible without them.” On the impact Inter Miami have had on his life and career, he added: “I will always carry with me the memory of our first star, and wherever I am, I will continue to wish the Club all the best moving forward. I have no doubt that the Club will continue to achieve success in the future. Sending you all a big hug, and thank you for everything.” Who will replace Mascherano at Inter Miami? With Mascherano’s departure confirmed, Inter Miami’s priority now is to refocus on their MLS campaign. Regarding the team’s immediate future, the Herons provided details on the steps they will take to replace the Argentine coach. “Guillermo Hoyos will assume the role of First Team head coach for the upcoming matches,” the club announced in the same statement. “Hoyos is a former professional footballer with more than 20 years of playing experience, as well as a coach and sporting director with extensive international experience in the football world.” Hoyos was already part of the Florida side’s sporting structure: “Since joining Inter Miami CF, he has been responsible for overseeing and advancing the Club’s professional pathway development structure, while also serving as sporting director up to now.” For now, his first challenge will be an away match against Colorado Rapids on Saturday in MLS.

Jimmy Conrad, Charlie Davies, and Tony Meola react to the bombshell news that Matt Crocker is leaving his role as U.S. Soccer's sporting director with immediate effect - right before the start of a home World Cup - to take a similar position with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. The crew discuss the strange timing, potential candidates to fill the role, and the bad optics ahead of a pivotal time for the USMNT. In brighter news, Folarin Balogun can't stop scoring in Ligue 1. With the Monaco striker on a seven-game hot streak, what can Pochettino do to better unlock him? Plus, teenagers are tearing up MLS, and the presumptive big boys enter the U.S. Open Cup at the Round of 32 stage! Call It What You Want is available for free on the Audacy app as well as Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever else you listen to podcasts. Follow the Call It What You Want team on X:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@JimmyConrad⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @CharlieDavies9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@TMeola1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit the ⁠betting arena on CBSSports.com⁠ for all the latest in ⁠sportsbook reviews⁠ and ⁠sportsbook promos⁠ for ⁠betting on soccer⁠ For more soccer coverage from CBS Sports, visit ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/⁠ To hear more from the CBS Sports Podcast Network, visit ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/podcasts/⁠ Watch UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Europa Conference League, UEFA Women’s Champions League, EFL Championship, EFL League Cup, Carabao Cup, Serie A, Coppa Italia, CONCACAF Nations League, CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers, Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, NWSL, Scottish Premiership, AFC Champion League by subscribing to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Paramount+⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit the betting arena on CBS Sports.com: ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/betting/⁠ For all the latest in sportsbook reviews: ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/sportsbook-promos/⁠ And sportsbook promos: ⁠https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/sportsbook-promos/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt Crocker quit as sporting director of the U.S. Soccer Federation on Tuesday, just two months ahead of the World Cup, to take a new job in Saudi Arabia.

United States Men’s National Team legend Landon Donovan reacts to sporting director Matt Crocker leaving U.S. Soccer.

FIFA have a request to make of US President Donald Trump as they prepare for this summer's World Cup hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico

Crocker was hired to take the role in 2023 and played a leading role in the federation's efforts to hire USWNT head coach Emma Hayes and USMNT counterpart Mauricio Pochettino

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The United States men's soccer team has been rocked by the news that Matt Crocker, the sporting director, has walked out on his job just two months before the World Cup.

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