‘I was upset for him’: how Real Salt Lake reacted to Diego Luna’s USMNT exclusion

Key Points:

• Real Salt Lake coach Pablo Mastroeni expressed disbelief over the exclusion of star playmaker Diego Luna and promising youngster Zavier Gozo from the US World Cup roster, highlighting Luna's key role for the national team in 2025.
• Despite Gozo's strong MLS performance with six goals and four assists in 14 matches, he was considered a long shot for the squad and ultimately did not make the team, while Luna's omission was more surprising given his importance.
• Both players and staff reacted with disappointment, with Luna missing part of training due to a hamstring issue, and players learning their World Cup status via email.
• Gozo remains motivated despite the setback, expressing readiness to advance his career and openness to opportunities beyond Real Salt Lake, while Mastroeni praised his potential impact in critical game moments.
• Mastroeni compared Luna’s current situation to his own past challenges, emphasizing Luna’s resilience and likelihood to continue contributing significantly to the national team in the future despite missing the 2026 World Cup.