Pochettino defends emailed World Cup squad notifications as Donovan calls for phone calls

Mauricio Pochettino defended his decision to inform players of their places in the United States’ 26-man FIFA World Cup squad via an emailed video, pushing back firmly against criticism at the squad’s formal unveiling in New York on Tuesday.

The squad announcement had already been leaked days before the event, but Pochettino used the occasion to address the controversy head-on, insisting that he and his staff prioritise clear communication and that their approach will not change based on the scale of any given tournament.

Drawing on his own playing career, the former Argentina international argued that the last thing a dropped player wants is a conversation with the manager who left them out. “What are you going to say? Am I going to lie?” Pochettino said. “‘You are not in the roster because I believe that another teammate is today, in that period, is a better option.’ I don’t say that is better player and you cannot make the roster in the future.”

Pochettino also questioned where the obligation to call would logically end — whether he should ring every player cut from the provisional 55-man squad, or those who missed out on earlier January and March camps. “I think that is not the way,” he said. “Football is about doing everything to try to be in the roster. If I don’t make the roster, I need to think that until the one day before, things can happen. They need to be ready because maybe we can call. That is the sport.”

The coach was equally emphatic that his decision was not born of indifference. “I understand the player that didn’t make the roster — they don’t want to hear me say, ‘Oh, apologise, oh, whatever.’ I care. Do you know why I care? Because during the last two weeks I didn’t sleep. And today, still I cannot enjoy the 26 guys that are in front of me, because I am thinking of players that are out. If I call, it’s about myself.”

US legend Landon Donovan offered a measured counterpoint, telling The Guardian that while he could follow Pochettino’s reasoning, he would still have valued a direct phone call. “I can understand where he’s coming from,” Donovan said. “To some extent, I was thinking about it this morning — not hearing from him directly might actually be a good thing. It’s a s*** situation.”

The debate reflects a broader tension in elite football between logistical efficiency and the personal touch players often expect when their international futures hang in the balance.