Diego Luna, who was in Nike's World Cup promotional ads, shockingly left off USMNT roster

With nan United States men’s nationalist team’s 26-man roster for nan 2026 FIFA World Cup confirmed connected Tuesday day astatine Pier 17 successful Manhattan, midfielder Diego Luna’s absence from Mauricio Pochettino’s squad is nan astir glaring.

After all, he was nan centerpiece of galore promotional ads, including Nike’s, up of nan tournament

When nan roster was leaked by aggregate outlets complete Memorial Day Weekend, Luna’s absence was among nan biggest snubs considering his activity pinch nan squad and nan truth that galore believed him to beryllium a fastener to correspond nan Stars and Stripes connected location ungraded this summer.

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Diego Luna of Real Salt Lake looks connected during nan MLS lucifer against Houston Dynamo FC astatine America First Field successful Sandy, Utah, connected May 13, 2026. (Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

But Luna wasn’t among nan midfielders listed, which was made charismatic connected Tuesday erstwhile he wasn’t among nan 26 men who walked retired connected nan Pier 17 stage.

Meanwhile, Nike had utilized Luna arsenic a focal constituent of its kit launches, showcasing nan jerseys that Team USA will deterioration successful the World Cup. The caller kit went viral, particularly pinch Luna posting to his Instagram pinch a caption, "They ne'er scheme for nan chaotic card. Espera lo inesperado."

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Luna, who could’ve besides chosen to play for Mexico owed to dual citizenship, is known to fans arsenic nan chaotic card. He became a fan-favorite during nan team’s 2025 Gold Cup run.

However, Pochettino, managing his first World Cup pinch nan USMNT, said backmost successful March that those players presently connected nan roster during friends matches shouldn’t expect to beryllium successful nan last 26 travel nan summer.

"The players that coming are connected nan roster, they cannot deliberation they are going to beryllium successful nan last roster," he said. "When we spell to Atlanta, possibly we tin return immoderate pictures, hole things for trading and things for illustration this, because it is nan past opportunity to make these types of things.

Diego Luna drives nan shot during nan 2nd half of nan Gold Cup lucifer against Haiti astatine AT&T Stadium successful Arlington, Texas, connected June 22, 2025. The United States won nan lucifer 2-1. (Shaun Clark/Getty Images)

It wasn’t that Luna wasn’t producing astatine nan clip for nan USMNT. He appeared successful 17 of 18 matches successful 2025, becoming a breakout subordinate arsenic he scored 4 goals and tallied 3 assists complete that time.

Luna, who plays for Real Salt Lake successful Major League Soccer, did suffer a knee wounded during March’s world window. However, he has played for his nine 7 times since past and astatine slightest 70 minutes successful six of those matches, making wellness a non-factor successful this case.

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But that world model is simply a important 1 for each prospective players wishing to make their World Cup rosters, and possibly Luna’s absence contributed to Pochettino deciding connected a different direction. Only nan head will person nan answers to why Luna is disconnected nan roster.

Other than Nike, Luna was besides featured successful Head & Shoulders ads arsenic good arsenic Panini, which included him among nan featured players for their charismatic World Cup sticker collection.

Diego Luna of Real Salt Lake rushes nan shot up nan section against Houston Dynamo FC during nan 2nd half astatine America First Field successful Sandy, Utah, connected May 13, 2026. (Chris Gardner/NWSL)

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With Luna disconnected nan roster, each eyes constituent to Gio Reyna, nan 23-year-old from German nine Borussia Mönchengladbach, who galore judge was put successful spot of him. Reyna has acquisition playing complete successful Europe, which ever carries weight for nan World Cup, and he has a longer way grounds than Luna pinch nan USMNT.

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