What had been a historic World Cup run for the USMNT ultimately ended in the same disappointment as previous campaigns.
Their elimination against Belgium exposed a clear reality: this team is still not ready to compete against players with greater international experience.
However, one controversy that followed the team throughout the tournament, even before it began, was Diego Luna’s absence from Mauricio Pochettino’s roster.
During a recent interview with Goal, Diego Luna spoke about missing the home World Cup.
Diego Luna: “The World Cup is the epitome”
When the World Cup roster was released, everyone was surprised to find that the Real Salt Lake attacker was nowhere to be found. The strange thing happened when you noticed that Luna played 17 of the USMNT's 18 games last year.
“As a soccer player, playing in a World Cup is something you can check off once you accomplish it, right? For me, that goal is still at the top of the list, and now I have four years to fing give everything I have to make sure I can play in 2030.”
However, based on what we saw during the tournament, it is difficult to imagine a version of the team in which Luna would have played a major role.
In my opinion, Luna would not have received many minutes and likely would have featured only against Turkey when Pochettino rotated his bench.
The coach’s plan was built around agile and quick players capable of launching counterattacks. While the wingers and midfielders were expected to create chances and contribute defensively, the team prioritized its shape and work without the ball.
“You’re going to get upset, and you’re going to have emotions, but now what? I’m blessed enough to be 22 years old and, hopefully, get a chance to play in more World Cups. You learn how this works, and you learn that nothing is given to you. These things can happen. Now, you have to prepare your mental state and your body in the right way to do the right things to perform at a high level.”
On the bright side for the MLS star, Luna is still very young and has plenty of opportunities ahead. With continued growth and dedication, he could feature in several future World Cups.
Despite the enthusiasm, Luna has to consider that Pochettino will likely extend his contract until the next World Cup, so he has to work harder at RSL if he wants to make it.
He knows it, and he has four years to prepare. Although it’s not an easy job, having Luna at the next World Cup could be a plus that was lacking against Belgium.
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