U.S. men’s national soccer team head coach Mauricio Pochettino announced his roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday afternoon, though the roster had already been leaked.
Read more Nate Blouin says he will drop out if he is not leading progressive against McAdams
Real Salt Lake had two World Cup hopefuls in Diego Luna and Zavier Gozo. But both learned Friday after practice via email that neither had made the World Cup squad, Gozo told The Guardian on Monday.
“I thought I would be less disappointed than I was,” Gozo said. “Obviously, it wasn’t like I was supposed to go. I feel like I was disappointed, but I also think it just gave me so much more motivation to be able to make the first team, whenever that is.”
Prior to the news, Gozo told the Deseret News that he was “extremely flattered to be in that conversation.”
Real Salt Lake head coach Pablo Mastroeni saw his young star as a strong option off the bench for Pochettino, he told the Deseret News earlier this month.
“He’s going to pull something off, and he’s going to inspire his teammates with his pace, with his athleticism, with his endeavor, with his quality and with his goal-scoring threat,” Mastroeni said.
While the odds for an uncapped Gozo were more of a long shot, Luna seemed like a shoe-in.
Luna has four goals and two assists for Real Salt Lake this season. He was featured in World Cup billboards and marketing campaigns for Team USA across the country. In his 18 national team caps, he has four goals and four assists. In January 2025, he played through a bloody broken nose, which appeared to endear him to fans and Pochettino.
Following Real Salt Lake’s 1-1 draw Saturday, Mastroeni told reporters that it was “an interesting decision” to not select Luna.
“In 2025 the national team really leaned on him, both as an attacking player, but also a mentality piece,” he said.
#RSL manager Pablo Mastroeni has some thoughts on the decision to leave midfielder Diego Luna and wing back Zavier Gozo off the U.S. roster for the 2026 World Cup 👇 pic.twitter.com/MpPJMHP2Ld
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 25, 2026
Social media reactions to Luna, Gozo World Cup snubs
The news of Gozo and Luna not making the World Cup squad led to mixed reactions on social media, especially for Luna.
Diego Luna being plastered all over the media promoting the USMNT just for him not to be going to the World Cup is kind of wild tbh pic.twitter.com/MqmsXV1WGS
— USMNTTAKES (@USMNTTAKES) May 22, 2026
The ball knowledge of the casual USMNT fan is concerning.
People are genuinely shocked that Diego Luna won’t be at the World Cup.
Nasty work by USSF to push Luna propaganda so hard knowing there’s a good chance he wouldn’t make the final roster. Brutal. 🥀
Read more How Tulsi Gabbard and several strangers honored this widow’s Memorial Day request
— Gregg Beerholder 🍺 (@MLShater) May 22, 2026
Brenden Aaronson over Diego Luna is an awful decision as Luna is far superior technically, in addition to being a better passer, dribbler, & scorer. Luna plays 1-2 touch soccer. Aaronson largely ineffective & uncreative. Maybe someone rolls an ankle. https://t.co/bYdkTsMjIv
— Colin Reese (@COLINREESE) May 23, 2026
Yeah, it’s not like Diego Luna played in 17 of the national team’s 18 matches last year or anything like that. So bizarre that people are surprised! https://t.co/N8Gpr1ITlL
— Wasatch Soccer Sentinel (@WasatchSentinel) May 23, 2026
Imagine thinking a manager should select a World Cup squad based on who features in TV commercials and marketing billboards.
Diego Luna is a great talent, but leading a PR campaign doesn’t automatically earn you a ticket to the WC. Poch is picking a futbol team, not casting a… https://t.co/eFuc15XuxX
— Daniel Solana (@DiceElDani) May 24, 2026
It’s not my team, so I can’t really say that I care one way or the other, but I thought Diego Luna was one of America’s best players at last year’s gold cup. He was a difference maker and seemed to lift up the players around him.
— Derek Cockram (@Derek_Cockram) May 24, 2026
Not taking Diego Luna but taking Gio Reyna who barely starts games is such nonsense
— Zito (@_Zeets) May 22, 2026
I was led to believe that Diego Luna was on the field when Christian Pulisic scored an Olimpico in the World Cup Final.
In all seriousness, I feel for Luna. https://t.co/B6nyFmwelq pic.twitter.com/FCzunx0r7d
— Seth (@SethMan31) May 22, 2026
I really like Diego Luna, but I honestly find these takes very weird. Being used in promotional media has nothing to do with being selected for the World Cup. It only means he’s seen as a marketable player from different brands that sponsor USA MNT. https://t.co/O31zzpi4c5
— NobletStrength (@NobletStrength) May 24, 2026
there’s nothing unjust about it
Gio > Luna
you’re kidding yourself if you think Diego sniffs any PT at Gladbach- much less BVB or Nottingham Forest
using him in the marketing WAS shameless, tho
and naive https://t.co/QCmpdLMx98
— 🇺🇸 ⚽ east (@eastdeflection) May 23, 2026
Leaving Zavier Gozo off the USMNT World Cup roster was a big mistake, if it’s true. He is a phenomenon.
Gozo’s technical ability, 1v1 ability, touch, speed, directness, & finishing are desperately needed.
At the very least, Gozo draws the defenders away from Pulisic…
— Colin Reese (@COLINREESE) May 23, 2026
Diego Luna had a role under Pochettino. It was a part-time role that served its purpose in 2025.
Meanwhile re: Gio Reyna and the “he’s special” tag, it’s now or never. https://t.co/REKzfaLSjf
— Felipe Cárdenas (@FelipeCar) May 22, 2026
I had an outside hope that Gozo would be part of the World Cup. Luna being left out is a gut punch and I feel awful for him. Especially after his work last summer and his growth and maturity of his game.
— Jarrett Smith (@Jarrett_Smith) May 22, 2026
MLS has been marketing Luna to the World Cup so hard. Whoops.
I am disappointed that Gozo isn’t going, but I am not surprised and I don’t think it’s a huge deal he isn’t going.
I am not surprised by any of the reported inclusions. https://t.co/wfPljGtc6T
Read more First studies from new faith-based university coalition find systematic religious bias in AI models
— Marcus Chairez | US/SC (@USSoccerColl) May 22, 2026