Mauricio Pochettino defended his decision-making around the 26-man US World Cup roster, particularly his use of email to inform players they were cut from the squad. The US head coach said there was no point in speaking to players directly, but some former US World Cup cuts disagree.
Roster Announcement and Reaction
On Tuesday afternoon, US Soccer unveiled the 26 players who will represent the United States at the 2026 World Cup. With the Brooklyn Bridge as the backdrop, the federation rolled out players one by one through doorways flanked by steam cannons. The roster had already been widely reported by the Guardian and the Athletic. Late last week, the 55 players on Pochettino's provisional roster received word of their status, with the 26 final selections receiving a video message from Pochettino. News of the selections quickly trickled out.
Pochettino's Communication Style
Pochettino's use of email to inform cut players sparked widespread discourse among fans and former players, many of whom believe a phone call or in-person meeting would have been more appropriate. Pochettino stressed the importance of consistency in communication, stating as recently as March that he had no plans to call players he planned to pass over. On Tuesday, he defended his approach: "What am I going to tell a player? Am I supposed to lie? I am going to say that another player is on the roster because today, in this period, he is a better option. I am not going to say that he is a better player or that you cannot make the roster in the future."
Former Players Weigh In
Landon Donovan, the USMNT's joint all-time leading scorer and a veteran of three World Cups, was famously cut from the US squad for the 2014 tournament by then-coach Jürgen Klinsmann in person. On Tuesday, Donovan offered a nuanced take: "I can understand where he's coming from. Not hearing from him directly might actually be a good thing. It's a shitty situation, it's not gonna change anything. Yes, if I was a part of the team for a long time, I would've wanted a phone call. If I'd not been part of the team for a long time, I wouldn't have cared. Every player is different."
Some former USMNT members, such as 2010 World Cup veteran Herculez Gomez, criticized Pochettino's approach openly, calling it "diabolical." Gomez pointed out that former US coaches Bob Bradley and Klinsmann made sure to have individual conversations with cut players. In 2014, Klinsmann called Gomez personally to tell him he wouldn't be part of the roster despite not having played for the national team in nearly a year. Gomez said: "This is a harsh, harsh way to treat players that have for better or worse given their blood and sweat. Diego Luna was the second-most capped player on this team. And you mean to tell me you didn't even pick up the phone and speak to him?"
Consistency vs. Personal Touch
Some suggested Pochettino could have called bubble players like Luna and midfielder Tanner Tessmann, but that presents a problem. Offering a different approach to some players could cause resentment within the group. Pochettino himself was left out of Argentina's World Cup plans in 1994 and 1998 and said he did not expect or even want a personal touch. He cited his experience being sacked from clubs, including Tottenham, where owner Daniel Levy wanted to talk after the decision. Pochettino said: "What do you want to talk about with me? After you sacked me? You should've talked to me before you sacked me. Not after, when you make the decision. I have nothing to say then."
Potential Roster Changes
Pochettino has until 1 June to submit a final roster to FIFA and can make emergency changes for injuries until the day before the US opener against Paraguay on 12 June. Players like Luna and Tessmann have not yet spoken publicly about being passed over. Donovan suggested national team coaches need to bear that dynamic in mind: "I'm not a betting person but I think the odds are that someone on that alternate list is going to end up on the team. So you want to keep players involved, around and excited in the event that happens."
Still, Pochettino held fast in his belief that players generally do not want to be spoken to about being excluded. "The players didn't make the roster, they don't want to hear me apologize," he said. "I care. Do you know why I care? For two weeks I did not sleep. And even today, I cannot enjoy the 26 guys in front of me because I am still thinking about guys that are out. That is to care. If I call the players I cut it is about myself. If I call, I say 'I am very human about calling and giving an explanation.' Come on, that is bullshit."
