Luna Omitted From USMNT’s Final 26-Man World Cup Squad
Luna Omitted From USMNT's Final 26-Man World Cup Squad
Midfielder Diego Luna was not included in the United States men’s national team’s 26-man roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, confirmed Tuesday at Pier 17 in Manhattan by head coach Mauricio Pochettino. The omission drew immediate attention given Luna’s visibility in pre-tournament commercial campaigns, including kit launches for Nike and appearances in Head & Shoulders and Panini promotions, where he had been presented alongside players expected to feature in the tournament.
Luna, 23, plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer and emerged as one of the USMNT’s most prominent young players in 2025, appearing in 17 of 18 matches and contributing four goals and three assists. He became a fan favorite during the team’s 2025 Gold Cup run and holds dual eligibility for Mexico through citizenship. A knee injury sustained during March’s international window raised early questions about his fitness, but he subsequently made seven appearances for Real Salt Lake, logging at least 70 minutes in six of them. Pochettino had cautioned in March that inclusion in friendly squads carried no guarantee of a World Cup place, telling players they should not assume they would be in the final roster.
With Luna absent, Gio Reyna – the 23-year-old who plays for Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany – is among the midfielders included. Reyna carries a longer international track record with the USMNT and brings experience from one of Europe’s established leagues, factors that weigh heavily in roster construction for a tournament of this scale.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, giving the USMNT the uncommon advantage of competing on home soil. Pochettino has not publicly stated his reasons for leaving Luna out, and no explanation was offered at the roster announcement.
