USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino revealed the USMNT roster for the March friendly matches against Belgium and Portugal last week.
Pochettino's latest USMNT sqaud includes players from the MLS and players who are in Europe. One player who was key for Pochettino's USMNT but was not included in the latest roster is Diego Luna.
Luna suffered an injury before the start of the 2026 MLS season but returned last week and has played two games for Real Salt Lake. Luna came off the bench in the first two games for Real Salt Lake in the 2026 MLS season so far.
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USMNT legend Alexi Lalas believes that Luna still has a shot to make the USMNT World Cup roster in May and compares Luna to a player who is included in the March USMNT roster, Gio Reyna.
Alexi Lalas on Diego Luna and Gio Reyna
On the Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union Podcast, Alexi Lalas talks about the USMNT March roster and highlights the omission of Diego Luna.
Lalas says that Luna has not reached a 'low' part of his career like Reyna has had in his career so far.
Alexi Lalas said, "Diego Luna hasn't had the up and down, and certainly the dramatic down and the craziness on and off the field that Gio Reyna has."
When comparing the two players, Lalas said, "They're very different types of players. While both can start, I think that Reyna is probably more comfortable in a starting capacity."
Lalas described what Luna has, which can lead to him earning a World Cup roster spot, as he said, "The impact that Diego Luna had on the national team last summer and on Mauricio Pochettino. I think there is a real appreciation for a grit or ruthlessness that he certainly showed that I think is going to put Diego Luna on that team."
