- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,129,374
- Reaction score
- 59
U.S. men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino is under fire not only for his World Cup roster selections, but the manner in which he delivered the news to his players.
The USMNT won't officially reveal its World Cup roster until Tuesday, May 26, but the full squad of 26 players was reported by The Guardian over the weekend.
Among the more notable players left off the team were Real Salt Lake duo Diego Luna and Zavier Gozo. The former appeared in 17 of the USMNT's 18 games last year, while the latter has yet to earn a call-up but has been one of the stars of the MLS season so far.
According to Gozo, he and Luna did not receive a call from Pochettino to inform them they weren't on the squad — but instead found out via email.
“We got the email at the same time, so I talked to [Luna],” the 19-year-old told the Guardian. “I honestly think he should be in the team. I was upset for him, and obviously you know he’s upset as well. So, yeah, I think he’s the same way. I think he’s just gonna keep working hard.”
According to Herculez Gomez, who played for the USMNT at the 2010 World Cup and now works as a pundit for ESPN, Pochettino owed his players more than an email.
"According to this report, players were informed via email that their World Cup dreams were over," Gomez said on X.
"This is diabolical if true. Face your players and give them the respect they deserve. Even those who made the team are owed more than just an email."
More: Gio Reyna in, Diego Luna out of USMNT World Cup roster, per report
Pochettino has said various times during his tenure that he does not consider regular communication with his players to be a priority. Whereas previous coaches stayed in touch with players more often, the Argentine prefers to only speak with them during national team gatherings.
"They don't need an explanation, it is about performing. And then nothing is personal," Pochettino said in October when asked why he doesn't speak with players not selected for his rosters.
After Pochettino's decision to omit Luna and Gozo came out, Real Salt Lake head coach Pablo Mastroeni — a longtime USMNT player himself — said he was disappointed to see both players miss out.
“I hurt for the guys,” Mastroeni said after RSL tied Minnesota 1-1 on Saturday, May 23. “Disappointed for them, hurt for them.”
“It’s an interesting decision,” Mastroeni added on leaving Luna out. “In 2025, the national team really leaned on him both as an attacking player and a mentality piece. Pochettino referenced his ability to fight. I just think at the World Cup, where you need difference makers, a guy who is going to come into a game where the stage is never going to be too big.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USMNT boss Pochettino criticized for World Cup roster email rejection
Continue reading...
The USMNT won't officially reveal its World Cup roster until Tuesday, May 26, but the full squad of 26 players was reported by The Guardian over the weekend.
Among the more notable players left off the team were Real Salt Lake duo Diego Luna and Zavier Gozo. The former appeared in 17 of the USMNT's 18 games last year, while the latter has yet to earn a call-up but has been one of the stars of the MLS season so far.
According to Gozo, he and Luna did not receive a call from Pochettino to inform them they weren't on the squad — but instead found out via email.
“We got the email at the same time, so I talked to [Luna],” the 19-year-old told the Guardian. “I honestly think he should be in the team. I was upset for him, and obviously you know he’s upset as well. So, yeah, I think he’s the same way. I think he’s just gonna keep working hard.”
According to Herculez Gomez, who played for the USMNT at the 2010 World Cup and now works as a pundit for ESPN, Pochettino owed his players more than an email.
"According to this report, players were informed via email that their World Cup dreams were over," Gomez said on X.
"This is diabolical if true. Face your players and give them the respect they deserve. Even those who made the team are owed more than just an email."
More: Gio Reyna in, Diego Luna out of USMNT World Cup roster, per report
Pochettino has said various times during his tenure that he does not consider regular communication with his players to be a priority. Whereas previous coaches stayed in touch with players more often, the Argentine prefers to only speak with them during national team gatherings.
"They don't need an explanation, it is about performing. And then nothing is personal," Pochettino said in October when asked why he doesn't speak with players not selected for his rosters.
After Pochettino's decision to omit Luna and Gozo came out, Real Salt Lake head coach Pablo Mastroeni — a longtime USMNT player himself — said he was disappointed to see both players miss out.
“I hurt for the guys,” Mastroeni said after RSL tied Minnesota 1-1 on Saturday, May 23. “Disappointed for them, hurt for them.”
“It’s an interesting decision,” Mastroeni added on leaving Luna out. “In 2025, the national team really leaned on him both as an attacking player and a mentality piece. Pochettino referenced his ability to fight. I just think at the World Cup, where you need difference makers, a guy who is going to come into a game where the stage is never going to be too big.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USMNT boss Pochettino criticized for World Cup roster email rejection
Continue reading...
