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As the 26-man United States men’s national team roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was confirmed Tuesday afternoon at Pier 17 in Manhattan, the absence of midfielder Diego Luna from Mauricio Pochettino’s squad was most glaring.
After all, he was the centerpiece of many promotional ads, including those from Nike, before the tournament.
When the roster was leaked by multiple media outlets over Memorial Day weekend, Luna’s absence was among the biggest gripes given his work with the team and the fact that many believed he was a lock to represent the Stars and Stripes at home this summer.
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Diego Luna of Real Salt Lake looks on during the MLS match against the Houston Dynamo FC at America First Field in Sandy, Utah on May 13, 2026. (Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
But Luna was not among the midfielders listed, which was made official on Tuesday when he was not among the 26 men who left the Pier 17 stage.
Meanwhile, Nike had used Luna as the focal point of its kit launch, showcasing the jerseys that Team USA will wear at the World Cup. The new kit went viral, especially when Luna posted a caption on her Instagram: “They never plan for the wild card. Espera lo inesperado.”
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Luna, who could also have chosen to play for Mexico due to her dual nationality, is known to fans as the wild card. He became a fan favorite during the team’s 2025 Gold Cup run.
However, Pochettino, who is managing his first World Cup with the USMNT, said in March that players currently featured in friendlies should not expect to make the final 26 this summer.
“The players who are on the list today cannot think that they will be in the final list,” he said. “When we go to Atlanta, maybe we can take some pictures, get some things ready for marketing and things like that, because this is the last opportunity to do that kind of thing.
Diego Luna drives the ball during the second half of the Gold Cup game against Haiti at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on June 22, 2025. The United States won the game 2-1. (Shaun Clark/Getty Images)
It wasn’t that Luna wasn’t producing for the USMNT at the time. He appeared in 17 of 18 matches in 2025, becoming a scoring player by scoring four goals and collecting three assists during this period.
Luna, who plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer, suffered a knee injury during the March international window. However, he has played seven times for his club since then and at least 70 minutes in six of those matches, making health not a factor in this case.
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But this international window is crucial for any potential players wanting to get on their World Cup roster, and perhaps Luna’s absence contributed to Pochettino deciding to take a different direction. Only the manager will have the answers to why Luna is off the roster.
Aside from Nike, Luna has also been featured in Head & Shoulders advertisements as well as Panini, who included him among the featured players for their official World Cup sticker collection.
Real Salt Lake’s Diego Luna sends the ball up the field against the Houston Dynamo FC during the second half at America First Field in Sandy, Utah on May 13, 2026. (Chris Gardner/NWSL)
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With Luna out of the roster, all eyes are on Gio Reyna, the 23-year-old player from German club Borussia Mönchengladbach, who many believe has replaced him. Reyna has experience playing in Europe, which always carries weight for the World Cup, and he has a longer track record than Luna with the USMNT.
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