MAJOR SHAKE-UP: Stewart leaves U.S. Soccer as sporting director, McBride departs from USMNT GM post

Earnie Stewart: “When the opportunity arose to return to the Netherlands to pursue an exciting and challenging role that was near my family, I could not turn it down.” (Photo courtesy of U.S. Soccer)

U.S. Soccer Federation sporting director Earnie Stewart is departing the organization and will return to the Netherlands to join legendary Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven, U.S. Soccer announced on Thursday.

Stewart will remain with U.S. Soccer until Feb. 15 to ensure a smooth transition as U.S. Soccer continues its search for its next sporting director.

In another announcement, U.S. men’s national team general manager Brian McBride has also decided to move on after serving in the role for the past three years, effective Jan. 31. Prior to the World Cup, McBride informed U.S. Soccer of his decision.

Following the 2022 FIFA World Cup, U.S. Soccer initiated a top-down review of the Men’s National Team program, including the sporting structure and the roles and responsibilities of the staff. That process expanded to include a holistic review of U.S. Soccer’s entire sporting department in order to establish the operational roadmap and strategy that will guide U.S. Soccer as it looks ahead to competing in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, the 2024 Olympics and the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

U.S. Soccer has retained Sportsology Group to head the search for the organization’s next sporting director. Working with key U.S. Soccer leadership, Sportsology has also already begun a full review of U.S. Soccer’s sporting department. The group will also analyze head coach candidates to accelerate the Sporting Director’s hiring process.

During the search for a new sporting director, all sporting staff will report to U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson. Once the sporting director is hired, that individual will oversee the process of hiring the new USMNT head coach. In the interim, Anthony Hudson will serve as the USMNT head coach until a permanent head coach is named.

“While we are sad to see Earnie go, he has helped lay a strong foundation and build a strong sporting staff to ensure that the future of U.S. Soccer is bright,” U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone said in a statement. “Today, we have a unique opportunity to bring in a new Sporting Director to build on this momentum. We are eager to engage new leaders who will match our ambitions and realize our vision for the future, taking our National Teams to the next level, including competing for a FIFA World Cup on home soil in 2026.

“Earnie has had an immense impact on our sporting department and on soccer in this country during the last several years and dating back to his playing days for the National Team, and we are incredibly grateful for his leadership in helping develop the next generation of players in the United States.”

“When the opportunity arose to return to the Netherlands to pursue an exciting and challenging role that was near my family, I could not turn it down,” said Stewart. “I am extremely proud of what our sporting department has accomplished over the past four years to advance the next generation of players and increase participation in the sport across the country. This is a pivotal time for the sport in the United States and I have full confidence in the leadership of U.S. Soccer heading into 2026 and beyond. It has been an honor to represent the U.S. Soccer Federation again in this capacity and I look forward to continuing to support U.S. Soccer in my next chapter and in the future.”

Stewart has been sporting director since August 2019.

“When the opportunity arose to return to the Netherlands to pursue an exciting and challenging role that was near my family, I could not turn it down,” Stewart said in a statement. “I am extremely proud of what our sporting department has accomplished over the past four years to advance the next generation of players and increase participation in the sport across the country. This is a pivotal time for the sport in the United States and I have full confidence in the leadership of U.S. Soccer heading into 2026 and beyond. It has been an honor to represent the U.S. Soccer Federation again in this capacity and I look forward to continuing to support U.S. Soccer in my next chapter and in the future.”

The decisions of Stewart and McBride were made independently of each other and were not impacted by U.S. Soccer’s process for naming the next USMNT head coach or the ongoing investigation, the organization said.