The roster reveal for the U.S. Men’s National Team on Tuesday was supposed to be a marquee event for World Cup broadcaster Fox, an unofficial kickoff to the tournament filled with loads of intrigue about which players made the cut.
Instead, everyone already knows who’s on the team.
On Friday, The Athletic first reported on some player movement—Gio Reyna is in, Diego Luna is out—before The Guardian first reported Mauricio Pochettino’s entire roster on Saturday.
So much for Fox emulating CBS’s Selection Sunday show for March Madness, which actively tries to prevent leaks every year.
The players found out their selection or exclusion via email on Friday, a move that received much criticism online.
“Face your players and give them the respect they deserve,” said former USMNT player and ESPN pundit Herculez Gomez, who called the move “diabolical if true.” “Even those who made the team are owed more than just an email.”
U.S. Soccer is staging the roster reveal at Pier 17 in New York City on Tuesday afternoon, with hours of fan celebrations before the official announcement. Players were not intended to find out their fate at the event, and the ones who did make the team will be in attendance on Tuesday.
Last week, the English team’s roster was also leaked before its reveal. Manager Thomas Tuchel told BBC that leaks are “just the nature of these times.” Tuchel said England called most of the players Thursday ahead of Friday’s announcement.
Manchester United defender Harry Maguire posted Thursday night that he was “shocked and gutted” by being left off the roster, while his mother said she was “absolutely disgusted.”
“Players are disappointed and they talk of course and then too many people know, too many people want to know,” said Tuchel, who also said he was “a bit surprised” by Maguire’s reaction in particular.
Fox has said that the expanded 104-game World Cup will be the largest production in the company’s history.
