USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino has defended his decision to inform players cut from the 2026 World Cup squad via email rather than phone calls or in-person meetings. The 26-man roster was unveiled in New York on Tuesday, but the method of communication has sparked debate among fans and former players.
Pochettino argued that calling each of the 29 players omitted from the provisional roster was impractical. 'What am I going to tell a player? Am I supposed to lie?' he said. 'I am going to say that another player is on the roster because today, in this period, he is a better option.' He stressed the need for consistency in communication across the squad.
Landon Donovan, who was famously cut from the 2014 World Cup squad in person by then-coach Jürgen Klinsmann, offered a nuanced view. 'I can understand where he’s coming from,' Donovan said. 'Not hearing from him directly might actually be a good thing. Every player is different, though.'
However, former USMNT striker Herculez Gomez criticised the approach as 'diabolical'. He noted that previous coaches Bob Bradley and Klinsmann made personal calls to cut players, even those not regularly in the squad. 'This is a harsh, harsh way to treat players that have for better or worse given their blood and sweat,' Gomez said.
Some have suggested Pochettino could have called players on the bubble, such as Diego Luna or Tanner Tessmann. But Pochettino’s approach avoids creating resentment through differential treatment, particularly as he may remain coach beyond 2026.
