Former USMNT stars back Mauricio Pochettino after World Cup roster cuts email drama
Former USMNT players Stu Holden and Alexi Lalas have defended head coach Mauricio Pochettino after he faced backlash for informing players about their World Cup roster status via email. The controversy arose when players not selected for the 2026 World Cup received an email notification, while those who made the team received both an email and a video message. Both analysts believe the criticism is exaggerated and support Pochettino's communication approach.
- ▪Mauricio Pochettino informed players about their World Cup roster status through email, which sparked controversy.
- ▪Stu Holden and Alexi Lalas defended Pochettino, stating that the criticism is overblown.
- ▪Holden expressed that players may prefer an email over a potentially uncomfortable phone call regarding their selection status.
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Soccer Former USMNT stars back Mauricio Pochettino after World Cup roster cuts email drama By Christian Arnold Published May 27, 2026, 9:36 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google Former United States men’s national team members and soccer analysts Stu Holden and Alexi Lalas came to the defense of USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino after the coach had faced criticism for how he informed players they didn’t make the 2026 World Cup squad. Pochettino told players who did not make the 23-man World Cup squad by email — players who did make the team were also sent an email along with a video message from Pochettino — which has sparked some controversy.
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