Diego Luna’s 1st start offers Real Salt Lake star a chance to show USMNT what it’s missing
Apr 2, 2026, 8:45 PM | Updated: Apr 3, 2026, 1:51 pm
SANDY — Real Salt Lake talisman Diego Luna was left off the United States’ roster for a pair of friendlies during the spring international break. But U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino may have unwittingly done Luna a favor.
He might have given another reason to bring the 22-year-old rising star who is coming back from a knee injury suffered before RSL’s season opener to this summer’s World Cup on home soil.
Without Luna — and with a lineup of regular starters including Christian Pullisic, Weston McKennie and Folarin Bolagun — the United States gave up four unanswered goals in a 5-2 loss to Belgium, and followed it up with a 2-0 setback to a Cristiano Ronaldo-less Portugal in what was the final tune-up before the World Cup roster is revealed.
Luna will get a chance to show what the United States was missing this weekend, when the California-born, Mexican-American U.S. international will start Saturday against Sporting Kansas City (2:30 p.m. MT, Apple TV) as the club looks to continue its four-match unbeaten streak and 3-1-1 start to the season.
RSL manager Pablo Mastroeni knows exactly what he’ll bring: a player who understands the importance of moments, both for club and country.
“He’s a guy who always plays with a chip on his shoulder,” said Mastroeni, who played 65 games for the USMNT from 2001-09, “and doesn’t care if he’s playing against Guatemala, Belgium or Portugal.
“Diego’s mentality is that it’s me against the world,” he added. “I think in those kinds of games, you want someone to come into a game that isn’t overcome by the presence of his opponents.”
After missing the first three matches of the season, Luna came off the bench to play the final 19 minutes March 14 against Austin FC, including providing an assist on Stijn Spierings’ late match-winner. He then added 45 minutes in a substitute role in the club’s 2-2 road draw March 22 against San Diego FC before the international break.
Now he’s got a lot to prove, and he’ll get plenty of minutes with his club team to prove it.
Salt Lake might have a couple of players featuring in the World Cup, both this summer and in another one down the line. Newly signed left wing Juan Manuel Sanabria has a goal in five appearances for Uruguay in the last year, receiving his first senior call-up last June before the 26-year-old signed with MLS and Real Salt Lake from Atletico San Luis in Mexico.
Diego Luna and Real Salt Lake’s World Cup duo — or trio?
Of course, the club has a keen eye on Luna representing the United States — for good reason.
“I think we have a player that could help the team, without a shadow of a doubt,” RSL president of soccer operations Jason Kreis said. “We are all extremely hopeful that Diego will get his opportunity and be included in that group.”
He doesn’t have a say in the matter, but if he did, Zavier Gozo would pick his current club teammate to go.
“I think he should be in the team,” Gozo said of Luna. “He 100% earned a spot in the World Cup squad. It’s up to the coach to make that decision — but I think he deserves it.”
Gozo, the 19-year-old Utah native now in his fourth season with Real Salt Lake, has been mentioned by some as a darkhorse candidate for inclusion in this year’s roster. While it’s unlikely Pochettino adds the teenage West Valley native whose family lives in Eagle Mountain, his experience with the U.S. youth system since he was 15 includes the U-20 World Cup in Chile last year.
“I think Gozo’s putting himself in a great position,” Mastroeni said. “The only thing that’s hampering Gozo is not having any opportunities prior to the selection. But I think the moment he gets an opportunity with the national team, there’s no doubt that he’s going to star in one of these World Cups up ahead.”
Gozo’s World Cup goals
Whether his time is now or four years from now, Gozo is preparing for the moment by staying in it.
“I think I always strive for the best. If the best is me playing in this World Cup, then that’s the best,” he said. “If the best is me playing in the next one, then that is what it is.
“But I think I just try to play my best every day, and life takes me where it needs to.”
Until then, he’ll continue to try to represent those around him — his parents, his family, his friends, and the Utah community where he’s grown up — until it comes time to represent his country again.
“I’m just so grateful,” Gozo said. “I’m so blessed that God has blessed me to do what I can do. I feel blessed to be in this position.”
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