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U.S. Soccer Communications announced the cancellation of previously scheduled media availability on Wednesday morning, citing a "Veterans' Day observance" for the U.S. men's national team players.
The USMNT are currently holding training sessions at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer national training center on the outskirts of Atlanta, as part of their 10-day November international camp in preparation for the two-match series against Haiti in the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinals kicking off this weekend.
The abrupt announcement, issued by the communications team just one hour before the previously arranged player availability session, arrives amid a growing media frenzy surrounding the increasingly uncertain future of USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
The Argentine tactician, currently present in Atlanta alongside the rest of the USMNT coaching staff, was first reported as a potential replacement for manager Michael Carrick at Manchester United on Monday, before rapidly emerging as the leading candidate for the role. According to the latest reports, Pochettino has already finalized all personal terms and verbally committed to becoming the Premier League club's next manager, with Carrick potentially facing dismissal within the coming hours or days.
U.S. Soccer, who only recently entered negotiations, is now "well prepared" for Pochettino's exit, according to a report from insider Ben Jacobs. There is a release clause in Pochettino's current four-year U.S. contract — which he signed just this past August — reportedly valued at $10 million; however, United will also be expected to cover additional compensation for Pochettino's backroom staff to accompany him to Manchester.
As of Wednesday morning, player media availability remains on schedule for Thursday, and Pochettino is still expected to conduct his pre-match press conference on Friday ahead of Saturday's opening leg against Haiti. Whether Pochettino will still be at the helm of the USMNT by Friday, however, remains an open question.
USMNT Players Address Pochettino, Man Utd Rumors
While no professional player is a stranger to the turbulence of managerial changes, the American squad has nonetheless found themselves in an incredibly uncomfortable position, continuing to train and prepare for competitive matches under Pochettino in Atlanta, all while reports of his agreement in principle with a club across the Atlantic continue to swirl.
Pochettino's renewed contract, which tied him to the program through the 2030 World Cup, saw him not only remain as the USMNT's head coach but also become a central figure in U.S. Soccer's long-term vision, with involvement in youth development pathways and the federation's grassroots programs. Having all of that disrupted just four months after signing on the dotted line is likely both shocking and deeply disheartening for the players. Pochettino won widespread admiration across the country this summer during the home World Cup, endearing himself not just to the squad but to the entire American soccer fanbase.
For now, the only course of action available to the USMNT players is to block out the external noise and remain focused on the upcoming matches — the team's first competitive games of the post-World Cup era — until they hear otherwise. And they're doing their best to do just that.
"It's just about focusing on the fact that we have a game this weekend, and I'm going to do everything I can to be ready to play for him and the way he wants us to play until told otherwise," Robinson said on Tuesday. "It's just working with what we've got until things change. And I don't really think it affects many of us, to be honest."
Pochettino has yet to speak directly with the players about the Manchester United situation, per The Athletic.