Overview
- Players were informed Friday that multiple outlets, led by The Athletic, say Diego Luna and Real Salt Lake prospect Zavier Gozo were told they will not be on the 26-man U.S. World Cup roster while Gio Reyna, Brenden Aaronson, Sebastian Berhalter, Mark McKenzie and Matt Turner were told they made the team.
- Luna became prominent after the 2025 Gold Cup where he had three goals and two assists and has continued strong club form, so his reported omission stands out given his recent rise and his choice to represent the United States over Mexico.
- Reports mention a recent muscle issue for Luna but at least one source described him as fit, leaving selection judgement unclear and making his exclusion appear linked to tactical priorities rather than plain availability.
- The leaked names arrive ahead of the official U.S. Soccer roster announcement scheduled for May 26 and could force changes to marketing and broadcast plans that featured Luna.
- Pochettino has repeatedly said he values tactical balance, role fit and tournament readiness, and the reported picks signal a squad built for specific positions and formation choices rather than for recent popularity or single-event form.